Happy New Year: Welcome 2022 Goodbye 2021

GOODBYE 2021 HELLO 2022

2021 was another COVID-19 Pandemic year. This has gotten beyond annoying and some of the powers that be seem to want to keep everything shut down and keeping the world in a mess. 'Nuff said about that I don't like being political.

Soon I will make my annual "State of the Blog" post to publish sometime early January. As far as my posting for 2021 went it was a bit more than just the bare minimum one post per month of most years. This was because of my catching up on my posted album reviews that I cranked out one a week to get them done. However I don't think my post quota goal was met. OH Well.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Pop-Tarts Another Taste Test: Frosted Crisp Apple

 OK so here I am, well was a few months back, with another taste test of what I hope will be a restoration of childhood nostalgia. Once again I saw a different Apple of Pop-Tart on the grocery store shelves. This time it was FROSTED CRISP APPLE. Yum!

Now if you have read all my posts on this blog you might remember I have done a couple of Pop-Tart taste posts. One was for another apple flavor "Frosted Orchard Apple Cinnamon" and the other was of all things Fruit Loops. Back to this "Crisp Apple". On the surface it looks like another Kellogg's attempt to bring back the favorite "Frosted Dutch Apple". Right? Wrong. Well sort of. I don't know if they intentionally keep introducing apple flavors that are similar to the original Dutch Apple flavor or not.

As with many other Pop-Tart flavors this one is a bit dry due to the pastry part. The filling part was so-so unheated, but slightly edible when heated up (toasted). OH well.

I have come to the conclusion that due to the recipe changes of the pastry over the years, and the use of  dryer chemical sugar substitutes particularly in the frostings, they will never revive my old favorite flavor FROSTED DUTCH APPLE.

Ebay Reselling Update: September 2021

EBAY Reselling Update:
September 2021 Sales

My last Sales update April 2021 I had 1 sale and 39 listings in the store. 

So What Sold in Sep 2021?

1. The Heechee Saga: Heechee Rendezvous Bk. 3 by Frederik Pohl (1985, Paperback) $4.95 Plus $4 shipping

Total: $4.95

I sold just 1 item, been months since I've added new listings so no sales for a long time. I keep "thinking" of listing, wanting and plan to list but haven't done so. Anyway this book was bought by someone in Canada and with the prices of USPS first class shipping to Canada I lost a ton on this. In the faith of openness it cost me $21.25 to ship USPS First Class to Ontario Canada. I will no longer ship to Canada the only non US country I was shipping to. Now I will Only ship to US and US Territories that are part of the USPS system. 

After this shipping to Canada fiasco I went to edit an older listing I had and accidentally clicked "end listing". I immediately noticed and then had to go to my "ended" listings section and relist that older ancient listing. It's all good now.

I now have 38 store listings at a count of 48 units.

Some related links:

My Ebay Store: CaptKirk42s Federation Trading Post
My YouTube channel: klandersen42
Up On Ebay Videos: Episode 01 | Episode 02
Ecrater Store: CaptKirk42 (AKA: Kirk's Knook)

Ranting and Blogging Or Just Ranting?

 

The original title for this post was: "Stop Blogging Time...  Can't Post This" OK OK so that post title could be a little misleading. I am NOT going to stop blogging and I don't plan on this post having material or ideas that can not be posted online. At this moment I am unsure of what this post will truly be about. I had a passing thought of the M.C. Hammer "Can't Touch This" song but changing the words to "Stop! Blogging Time" then thought of the "Can't Post This". Long story even longer, I once again thought about what can I post about this month. I also wondered why do I blog anymore? Mostly because in some ways I still like doing it. My blogging has never attracted a huge gathering mostly because I have never been one of those posting monster bloggers that crank out a minimum of 1 post per day. Some bloggers post close to half a dozen posts per day almost every day. Yikes. I  have always tried to have quality over quantity. I don't do enough blogging to have my blog monetized, and I don't have a consistent subject I blog about that I could spam advertise on my blog. I also don't always go with the crowd or the flow. For this regular personal blog sometimes it is very difficult to come up with a subject to blog about. I don't like to post too much personal info, yet sometimes I do seek a little bit of attention. 

Blogging just for yourself is a bit odd. When you think about it if that is why you are "blogging" you should just keep a diary on you computer without posting it online. That or do the traditional diary writing with pen or pencil on plain paper or in a diary type book.

Then there are times when I seriously think about giving up blogging completely all of my blogs. It would save me the hassle of having to come up with something to post every 30 days.

Well I guess this post will go nowhere. There isn't anything spectacular happening that I want to yack about.

Oh and to the 2 or 3 people who do read this blog as well as my two trading card blogs a big THANK YOU.

Album Review: 22 Nailing Corpus Christi

Album Review: 22

Nailing Corpus Christi

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

The Nails Corpus Christi

1993 Safe House Records SH 2110 2

**.5

"Bobbie joined a new-wave band,
and changed her name to Bobbie-sox."

I got this album because of the track I had heard on the radio "88 Lines About 44 Women", and this album has three versions of it as bonus tracks on the CD. Each version is slightly different and is even slightly different than the radio version (which was additionally edited to censor words not allowed on radio by the FCC). The other tracks on the album are OK but in my opinion are a little below average. On some tracks the lead singer sounds like he should be singing about Elvis Presley or some country western story song, and on a few has a hint of a Jim Morrison sound to his voice. A few of the tracks have a slight anti-Christian feel to them. It is a light mocking or poking fun of, not a full-blown bashing. I'm pretty sure that is the theme of the album thus the title.

Album Review: 21 Joe Cool Plays The Blues

Album Review: 21

Joe Cool Plays The Blues

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Wynton Marsalis/Ellis Marsalis Joe Cool’s Blues

1995 Columbia Records CK 66880

*****

"Little birdie, why do you fly upside down?
It's amazing, at the way you get around."

Anyone who has seen a Peanuts cartoon will recognize the first track Linus & Lucy which is often mistakenly called Snoopy's Theme by people who don't know it's title, probably because it is often used as the music that the gang dances and parties to. This version of Linus & Lucy is in a lower key than it's usually played plus the horns are muted. This whole album is music from or inspired by the Peanuts television specials and movies. This is one mellow smooth cool jazz album. When not reminding me of the cartoons this music takes me back to another part of my childhood. My mother's Godmother belonged to a country club and twice a year, sometimes more often we would go there on holidays for brunch or dinner. The club had a ballroom and a cocktail lounge. Often in the lounge there would be a jazz combo, usually just a trio (piano, drums and upright bass) at the time I was too young to appreciate jazz, so I never hung around the lounge. Plus I think children were not allowed in it. Back to this album. Many of the tracks are the themes for the characters, track 3 for example is Peppermint Patty and track 7 is Charlie Brown. There is even a track titled Oh, Good Grief! Track number 6 Wright Brothers Rag sounds like something that would play during one of Snoopy's WWI Flying Ace fantasy sequences. Track 11 Little Birdie is the only track that has any lyrics, I forget which special or movie it was featured in, but obviously it references Woodstock.

If you like jazz and you like the Peanuts cartoons then you wil love this album.

Album Review: 20 Flat Out Sounds Like Blue Oyster Cult

Album Review: 20

Flat Out Sounds Like Blue Oyster Cult

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Buck Dharma Flat Out

1982 Portrait Records ARR 38124

***.5

"On the night I was born
They had the radio on
The countdown survey
From numbers forty to one
They played number thirteen
Mother was feeling fine
The station kept a rockin'
I was born on number nine"

For those of you who don't know Buck Dharma is the lead singer for Blue Oyster Cult. This solo album could almost be considered a BOC album except it doesn't have the band's symbol on the cover, I haven't checked the musician credits carefully enough to see if any other band members contributed to this album. It totally Rocks. My favorite song from the album is the first track on side one Born to Rock. When I first got this album, I put that song on a mix tape or two, I probably still have those tapes somewhere. As I said this album sounds as though it could be a regular BOC album. The only real surprise of the album is the cover of Come Softly to Me it just doesn't seem to fit well with the other songs, but it is still very good. If you are a fan of Blue Oyster Cult, then you should add this album to your collection. I don't think it has seen the digital light of CD yet and I'm pretty sure the vinyl version is Out of Print.

Note: Since my original reviewing of this album back in 2007 a CD release has been made. I need to find a copy. I think there is a bonus track.

Album Review: 19 Head Over Heels For Paula Abdul

Album Review: 19

Head Over Heels for Paula Abdul

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Paula Abdul – Head Over Heels

1995 Virgin Records 7243 8 40525 2 2

**.5

"Now you tell me since you've been away

There was something you've been dying to say

Yes, I thought you had eyes for me

But I never was quite sure

Might funny that you never called

Ain't it funny now that you're gone

That you say you're in love with me

Now that's hard for me to believe"

A big disappointment. My least favorite Paula Abdul album. it's not bad it just doesn't have anything special to make it memorable. It basically killed her singing career, or at least de-railed it enough before she shifted gears to be a judge for American Idol. What is it with women who marry and then divorce those Sheen/Estévez boys? Other than the opening track Crazy Cool this album's only single, there is nothing that is particularly memorable. One thing is the video for the song is one of her sexiest videos (maybe because of the Pole Dancing), I think Promise Of A New Day is her sexiest video of all time. Track 2 My Love is For Real begins with a Middle East sound. What is up with that? Maybe a concept that went bad. Track 7 The Choice is Yours the lyrics are poorly enunciated at first, I thought she was singing something in French during the chorus. Track 8 Ho Down starts with an old 1920s style muted trumpets sound, which is either simulated to sound like an old vinyl Victrola disc or an authentic old recording, probably the former, and changes with scratching sounds that jumps into modern dance type music.

Album Review: 18 A Duo Of Broadway Babes

Album Review: 18

A Duo of Broadway Babes

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Emily Skinner/Alice Ripley Unsuspecting Hearts

1999 Varese Sarabande 302 066 07

****.5

"Pretty women
Silhouetted...
Stay within you,
Glancing... stay forever,
Breathing lightly...
Pretty women,
Pretty women!"

For fans of Broadway "Show Tunes" this CD is super. Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley are two Broadway stars that have two of the sweetest and beautiful voices around, and they are beautiful to boot. They are best known for their roles as Daisy and Violet Hilton the Siamese twins from Side Show. In fact track two She's Gone sung by Alice was cut from the show.

Highlights from this album and some of the tracks I bought this CD for are Pretty Women (Sweeny Todd),I Don't Know How To Love Him (Jesus Christ Superstar) and one of my faves from this album The Alto's Lament sung by Emily. That song is a funny but true song about the types of roles that altos are given to sing in shows. Musicians and musical lovers will get a kick out of that song. OH there is a bonus track at the end that contains a rehearsal for an audition tape, some of the track is just plain silly. I don't think it should have been included. As much as I like this album, it is difficult to listen to more than two maybe three times in a row. 

Album Review: 17 Generic Public Image

Album Review: 17

Generic Public Image

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Public Image Ltd Compact Disc

1986 Electra Records 9 60438-2

****

“Anger is an energy

Anger is an energy

Anger is an energy

I could be wrong I could be right

I could be wrong I could be right

I could be wrong I could be right

I could be black I could be white

I could be right I could be wrong

I could be black I could be white"

I first got this CD with the generic title Compact Disc back in the mid 1980s, (recommended by one of my buddies, well insisted really) then for some reason a few years later I sold it. I don't remember when or why, the why was obviously to get some buckage. Back then the first time I heard it, I didn't really like it except for the second track Rise which I tend to like, probably because it's so simple. A few months before reviewing this album, I searched for my copy but couldn't find it, because I wanted to hear that song. Well long story short I managed to find a copy off Ebay for cheap.

I enjoyed this album a lot, unfortunately its so generic sounding, there is little that stands up and grabs me, but I like it anyway.

This generic album has a nice light punk rock sound. The vinyl version is titled guess what? Album and the cassette version titled Cassette (if there were an 8-Track version that would have been called 8-Track). I suppose you could say it was softcore punk as opposed to hardcore. Public Image, LTD sounds like a cross between a typical UK punk band and REM, with a little Talking Heads tossed in.

Oh BTW for the first track titled FFF (all the tracks have simple titles, thus the generic feel to the album) stands for Farewell Fairweather Friends

I'd like to find sealed copies of the Cassette version and the album versions to put on display around my music collection. Newer remastered editions of this "album" is called "album" even on the CD versions.

Album Review: 16 The Greatest Bangling Hits

Album Review: 16

The Greatest Bangling Hits

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. It was one of the reviews I was assigned in the "Go Review That Album" game on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

The Bangles Greatest Hits

1990 Columbia Records CK 46125

****.5

“Blonde waitresses take their trays

They spin around and they cross the floor

They've got the moves (oh whey oh)

You drop your drink then they bring you more

All the school kids so sick of books
They like the punk and the metal band
When the buzzer rings (oh whey oh)
They're walking like an Egyptian”

Even though I really enjoy this album I feel that it is mistitled as “Bangles Greatest Hits". It should more accurately be titled "The Best of The Bangles". My reasons first the song "Everything I Wanted" was PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED. How can a song that has never been heard publicly before, be considered a "greatest hit"? The answer to that is the music companies need to add something new as filler so the old and current fans can experience something new. There were a few other songs that were never on the charts so again technically not a "hit" in the sense of not getting any radio airplay. The songs come from their 3 full albums (at the time of release 1990) "All Over The Place", "Different Light" and "Everything" except for; "Everything I Wanted" as mentioned before previously unreleased, "Where Were You When I Needed You?" the B-side to the single "Hero Takes A Fall", and their cover of Paul Simon's "Hazy Shade Of Winter" from the "Less Than Zero" Soundtrack (a song that became a bigger hit than the movie it was on the soundtrack to). Personaly I think at least one song is missing from this “Best of” album and that is “How is the Air up There?” from their self-titled EP released in 1982 I’ve always liked that song. There may be a few more but it has been ages since I've listened to their other albums.

The 1980s were mostly known for "Hair Bands", Rap music, Popularizing Punk Rock, New Wave, and a sort of Girl Group Revival. Girl groups had been around in the 1960s but they were mostly just singers, the '80s saw Girl groups that were actually "bands" in the sense that they played their own instruments. Some of them supposedly played their instruments but that can be debatable. The Bangles already knew how to play their instruments before they became a band (some bands had to learn to play their instruments). They also wrote their own songs most of the time. An exception was one of their biggest hits “Manic Monday” which was written by Prince.

My favorites from this album I guess would include: The cover of Katrina & The Waves “Going Down To Liverpool”, “Manic Monday”, “In Your Room”, “Eternal Flame”, “Hazy Shade of Winter” and probably “Walk Like An Egyptian” even though it was over played and over-hyped.

The Bangles have an excellent blend of harmonies, but honestly one can grow tired of Suzanna Hoffs’ high pitched voice. Drummer Debbi Peterson has a more pleasant but slightly husky voice especially when she takes the lead on her song “Be With You”. Her huskiness reminds me just a little bit of the Wilson Sisters of Heart.

The album certainly has an ‘80s feel to it. It also has a tiny international feel to it with “Walk Like An Egyptian” sort of, that song more sort of borrows a hint of the middle eastern feel with it’s mock Egyptian beat. A better international feel is the sitar (played by Michael Steele) of “In Your Room” or at least that ‘60s “lets impersonate George Harrison and The Beatles” feel.

In my book a best of album or a “Greatest Hits” album should contain those songs from a group’s repertoire that if the songs were on another album they would be the ones you would skip other songs to listen to. The more songs like that the better. I enjoy this album but for me not all the songs are songs I would skip to.

For people wanting to decide if the Bangles (previously known as “The Bangs”) is for them this is an excellent album to get. I would also suggest “Everything” and “Different Light” if you can find a copy getting the 5 song self-titled EP “Bangles” recorded when they were still the Bangs but re-released after their name change) is a plus for your Bangles collection.

Album Review: 15 Live Disco Jews Times Two

Album Review: 15

Live Disco Jews Times Two

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. It was one of the reviews I was assigned in the "Go Review That Album" game on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

2 Live Jews: Disco Jews

1994 Hot Records HTCD 3375-2

***.5

"I'm should get a Physical physical
Gonna get a physical
I should get a physical
I'm Gonna practice safe sex
With latex,
I'm Gonna Use the latex for safe sex"
*Approximate lyrics (I couldn't find them on the internet)

2 Live Jews is a comedy/parody duo who go by the names Morty & Herschel who poke fun at popular songs (usually dance songs). They are really two young guys, but they portray little old Jewish men who constantly Kevetch and shop for bargains while trying to get aroused by hot young girls. The dirty old Jewish man stereotype. They toss around Yiddish terms and jokes, that are hilarious if you're Jewish, but since I'm not they are just partly funny. Some of the jokes are just plain not funny. They sound like stereotypical Jewish characters portrayed by Billy Chrystal, Robin Williams and/or maybe a Carl Reiner type.

OK so this album Burns the Disco Era down with Jewish humor. Each song is to the tune of a recognizable Dance Hit from the Mid-1970s to very early 1980s. Some of them you could probably guess, at least one of them I recognize the original song but forget the title. If you do recognize the song and remember the title PM me so I can update this review, be sure to mention which album review you are talking about. Most of them (the songs) are pretty interesting, but the final track the interview is boring. Unfortunately none of the songs really stand out other than the fact that they are poking fun at guilty pleasure disco era songs.

Track 1 Bargain Town = Funky Town
Track 2 Stayin' Inside = Stayin' Alive
Track 3 Mommy's Planning Your Bar Mitzvah = Play That Funky Music White Boy
Track 4 She's JAP = La Freak (La Chic)
Track 5 Sabbath Night = S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y. Night
Track 6 The Herschel = The Hustle
Track 7 Physical = Physical (Well D'uh)
Track 8 What Did You Say = Y.M.C.A.
Track 9 Poop Real Good = Damn I recognize the song but can't remember the title.
Track 10 Jewish Lady = Disco Baby (or is it Disco Lady?)
Track 11 Mama Stein = Lady Marmalade
Track 12 Live at Studio 54 with Morty & Herschel = Interview

Album Review: 14 Double GTR

Album Review: 14

Double GTR

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. It was one of the reviews I was assigned in the "Go Review That Album" game on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

GTR GTR

1986 Arista Records ARCD 8400

***.5

“Watching the actor, that takes the stage by storm
Stealing the limelight, while we’re in the wings
Sometimes the hero, must play the underdog”

First off GTR is the abbreviation of guitar that is used by the music industry for track labeling in multi-track recording studios. GTR was a mid-1980s supergroup during the time when making dream lineups was a cool thing to do. Fronted by guitarists Steve Howe (Yes and Asia) and Steve Hackett (Genesis) GTR was formed initially as a special project to attempt a full band sound using only guitars w/out keyboard synthesizers. Synthesizing the guitars worked well enough in the studio for the recording but didn’t work so well for touring so the band had a keyboardist for their concerts. The band was only around for 2 years before going their separate ways. I always thought it was just a one-shot project to begin with. It wasn’t until I did a little internet research that I learned they had actually gone on tour with the group.

The opening track which was the first of two singles from the album “When The Heart Rules The Mind” along with a couple of the other songs sounds more like a Styx or Kansas type song than a Yes or Genesis song. It still gets some airplay now and then on AOR (Album Oriented Rock) stations. I admit there were sometimes a few years back when I heard the song and thought it was Styx. In the past I had only listened to this album three maybe four times. No wonder “When the Heart Rules the Mind” was the only song I remembered. The second track “The Hunter” was also released as a single I didn’t know that I thought the album only had the one single.

The instrumental songs “Sketches in the Sun” a guitar solo by Howe and “Hackett To Bits” by Hackett both sound more Yes-like than most of the rest of the album. You could probably mix it together with some songs from Yes Songs and claim it was some previously unreleased material from those sessions. Another song that has that Yes sound is “Jekyll And Hyde” which is a fun song. My final song of note on this album is “Toe the Line”. I feel that song would be a nice soft ballad type song to end the main set of a concert with, the final song where the band leaves the stage before coming back for its encore.

Album Review: 13 Explosive Bond

Album Review: 13

Explosive Bond

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Bond Explosive: The Best of Bond

2005 Decca Records B0004748-82 DDD

***.5

"I have seen blooms and blossoms, now I go.

To view the last and loviest, the snow.

(A frozen dream, a heart undone.)*

Forever burning, under the WinterSun."

*lyrics not audible for this line.

Explosive: The Best of Bond – This quartet of beauties have loads of musical talent as well as good looks. I am not sure of the band member’s ethnic backgrounds but many of their songs have a quick Latin Salsa and or Tango beat to them. They blend classical standards with an electric synthopop salsa blended sound that is reminiscent of a late 1970s action movie soundtrack. Track number two the title track “Explosive” could pass as the opening theme to a James Bond movie.

I first heard about Bond in an interview/preview from one of those entertainment tabloid television shows like “Entertainment Tonight” several years ago that introduced the group and perhaps plugged their album at the time (perhaps it was their debut album). I filed the group away as one to look out for. Unfortunately for a few years I only remembered they were a female quartet that jazzed up classical music. Eventually I saw or heard something from them again and eventually got this “dual disc” * [See Note at end of review]

As the group focuses on classical pieces and blend it with more modern musical techniques and styles this album is virtually instrumental. The few exceptions are “Viva!” which has a crowd, perhaps attending a soccer match shouting “Viva”, the catchy “Shine” which has some mariachi sounding voices (I’m not sure what they actually say if anything), and a short part of “Wintersun” (the lyrics of which I quoted at the beginning of this review) are the only songs that have lyrics. The track "Duel" also has vocal sounds but no lyrics.

The soccer match sounding “Viva!” starts out sounding like a Blue Man Group song it has a sort of PVC pipe instrument sound to it. “Wintersun” has parts that remind me of the popular 1970s Moog syntho-tune “Popcorn” by Hot Butter. The track “Duel” has some nice violin with some backing vocal sounds that are Enya-esk in its style. The traditional Christmas time classic “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy” is even covered but simply titled as “Sugarplum”

Overall even though this album is reminiscent of a 1980s syntho-pop disco club soundtrack it is quite enjoyable. Casual listeners may recognize some of the standard pieces with that “I know that song but have no idea what It’s called” like those character actors you see in film after film but never know their name. When you see them you say, “Hey I saw that dude in the sequel to that Psycho Horror movie with that other dude”. The final track “Carmina” has that surreal eerie choir vocalizing that is used countless times in Demonic Haunting Horror Movies and trailers or epic fantasy movies with a huge battle on a mountainous plain. For years and years, I had heard that tune but never knew the title. I often forget the title, but now I tend to remember that it is on this album.

The DVD side of this Dual Disc only has 3 videos (Explosive, Fuego and Victory)

*NOTE: for CD/DVD combination discs like these Dual Discs (audio on one side video on the other) and packages that include both an audio disc and a video disc I do NOT review the DVD/Video portion here. Sometimes I review them on my personal blog, but rarely. I tend to forget about reviewing the DVD portion.

Album Review: 12 Surviving The Streets With Lynyrd Skynyrd

 Album Review: 12

Surviving The Streets With Lynyrd Skynrd

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Street Survivors

1977 MCA MCAD 1687

****

"Well, the police said we can't drink in the bar

What a shame

Won't you come upstairs girl

And have a drink of champagne"

It's been a while since I've listened to this Classic Skynyrd album. Released in 1977 just three days before the tragic airplane crash that took the lives of several band members. After the crash MCA changed the original "Fire" or "Flames" Album cover (which shows the band members standing with flames of fire all around them) to the plain cover of this issue. For several years the original cover was very hard to find and expensive on vinyl and the CD issue only had this alternate cover. A remastered version with bonus tracks was issued in 2001 with the original cover (remind me to get that sometime). When this album was first released, I heard my brother's copy of it and especially liked "What's Your Name", "That Smell", "I Know A Little" and "You Got That Right". I think he still has it, with the original flames cover. Those songs are still my favorite ones from this album. Some of the others it's been so long since I've heard them that I'm not sure what they sound like or if I really like them. I will need to listen to this album again soon.

This album is definitely one of the ones to suggest to people who want to know which Lynyrd Skynyrd albums, besides greatest hits compilations, to purchase to start getting into the band. I believe it is the quintessential Lynyrd Skynyrd album.

Album Review: 11 Walking With Desire And Heart

 Album Review: 11

Walking With Desire and Heart

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Heart Desire Walks On

1993 Capitol Records CDP 599627

***.5

"The night just walked in

In walks the night

In walks my fantasy

Darkness all around me

And I'm dying for the light"

This Heart album is just an average Heart album in my book. I don't remember any mega hits coming from it, maybe track 6 In Walks the Night was released as the first single? or was it track 9 Will You Be There (In the Morning)? The chorus harmonies from that song sound sort of like an Abba song. Track 4 The Woman in Me it took me a few listens to understand the chorus at times it sounds like Ann is saying "The woman and man" or "woman in man" either of which don't make sense. Track 5 Rage sounds like they are trying to get into some, kind of soft-metal sound. When listening to this album several times in a row, the song Ring Them Bells gets a little dull. I would not recommend this album as a starter Heart album, for that I would suggest one of their earlier albums and their self-titled album before getting into this album.

*Nancy recently released her first solo album You and Me on 07 May 2021.

Album Review: 10 Self Titled Heart

 Album Review: 10

Self Titled Heart

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Heart Heart

1985 Capitol Records CDP 7 46157 2

****

"Darkness on the edge

Shadows where I stand

I search for the time

On a watch with no hands

I want to see you clearly

Come closer than this

But all I remember

Are the dreams in the mist"

It seems to me that most of these songs eventually became hits, or at least it seems like it. I often wonder why this album was self-titled. Usually a self-titled album is the band’s first album, but this was Heart’s 9th album (8th if you don't count The Greatest Hits album, which did have some original material). Anyway, the Wilson sisters kick some royal rock-n-roll arse on this album. The album starts heavy rockin' with If Looks Could Kill and continues, on from there. Perhaps the highlight of the album is These Dreams which is the first Heart song where Nancy* sings lead vocals instead of Ann. In the mid 1980s when this album came out Rock-n-Roll was all about Hair Bands and Nancy certainly let hers fly all over the place. I first got this album on vinyl, I think I still have it on that format, as part of my first dozen albums or so when I signed up to the then Columbia Record and Tape Club, eventually the mail-order service changed its name to the Columbia CD Club when they stopped dealing in vinyl in the early 1990s. All in all, this is probably my favorite Heart Album, I'd be hard pressed to pick a second favorite, I like them all.

*Nancy recently released her first solo album You and Me on 07 May 2021.

Album Review: 09 On Cloud Nine With George Harrison

 Album Review: 09

On Cloud Nine With George Harrison

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

George Harrison Cloud Nine

1987 Dark Horse Records 9 25643-2

****.5

“But it's gonna take money

A whole lot of spending money

It's gonna take plenty of money

To do it right, child.”

In my opinion Cloud Nine is one of if not the best of the later years George Harrison albums. It was produced by George and Jeff Lynne (ELO) which adds some orchestration to some of the songs making them sound bigger.

Like many of my reviews I don't know how I'm going to write them until I start on them, even then sometimes I change in mid-stride my approach. This album is mostly light and airy maybe that is what the title Cloud Nine means. I wasn't sure exactly how to write the review for this album so I will do the track by track thing:

Cloud Nine: The first track is also the title track. It makes some sense like the tradition of naming song titles with the first line of lyrics. Sometimes there is no title track. Anyway, this song I guess could be described as a sort of rock love ballad with a little bit of pep.

That's What it Takes: This song is one of the better mixes of the Harrison solos with Lynne's ELO sounds. The use of the harmonies gives it a soft heavenly sort of sound. It acts as a kind of preview of The Traveling Wilburys Sound.

Fish on the Sand: This one reminds me some of Harrison's Tribute to John Lennon All Those Years Ago sound wise. The title and some of the lyrics sort of suggest an awkward relationship.

Just For Today: A soft and slow tune that just sort of floats around giving a light peaceful air. The piano reminds me of Lennon's Imagine then with George's solo about mid-way I picture it as a slow-dance prom song with a little bit of that pseudo 1950s rockabilly.

This is Love: Another of the high ELO influenced songs. Part of it I almost expect to hear Roy Orbison joining in on it.

When We Was Fab: George’s tribute song to his Beatles years. It has that signature George Harrison weirdness to it. It mixes the eeriness of the cello sounds from Eleanor Rigby mixed with the I Am The Walrus Oooohh Chorus with kettle drums just to add some bounce. It finishes with some of George’s sitar sounds.

Devil's Radio: I think this song is making a statement about subliminal advertising and televangelist type preaching. Hidden agendas and how that evil influence. Then again maybe that is reading too much into it.

Someplace Else: Another slow prom dance song. I almost feel it is a second John Lennon tribute song that or pinning for a lost love.

Wreck of the Hesperus: Another one I’m not sure what to say. It is a good song I just don’t know how to explain it. It has a story song feel to it.

Breath Away From Heaven: Part of it has that Old Japanese kabuki tip-toeing type sound that one would expect from a John Lennon song not a George Harrison song.

Got My Mind Set On You: This is the second of the first two singles released from this album When We Was Fab was the first one. It is a fun but simple song. It is also a cover song originally recorded by James Ray in 1962 as “I’ve Got My Mind Set on You”. “Weird Al” Yankovic recorded the parody (This Song’s Just) Six Words Long on his Even Worse album.

In conclusion this is an overall excellent album. I would recommend it as an introduction to George Harrison’s albums especially his later ones.

Ebay Reselling Update: April 2021

EBAY Reselling Update:
April 2021 Sales

My last Sales update Feb 2021 I had 2 sales and 41 listings in the store. I had no sales in March.

So What Sold in Apr 2021?

1. Number 10 Envelopes Red 25 count pack $4.99 Free Shipping

Total: $4.99

Item number 1 was the last package of colored envelopes.

In March I took down a listing for some basketball cards to make a trade I did over at the trading card data base (tcdb.com). The cards not in the trade I will need to relist sometime. For me unfortunately it looks like the 5 cards I was supposed to receive were either lost in the mail (if sent) or were stolen by porch pirates if it was a large package left at my door.

I now have 39 store listings at a count of 49 units.

Some related links:
My Ebay Store: CaptKirk42s Federation Trading Post
My YouTube channel: klandersen42
Up On Ebay Videos: Episode 01 | Episode 02
Ecrater Store: CaptKirk42 (AKA: Kirk's Knook)

Album Review: 08 Aerosmith Will PUMP You UP

 Album Review: 08

Aerosmith Will PUMP You UP!

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. It was one of the reviews I was assigned in the "Go Review That Album" game on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Aerosmith Pump

1989 Geffen Records 9 24254-2

****

"Janie´s got a gun

Janie´s got a gun

Her dog day´s just begun

Now everybody is on the run

Tell me now it´s untrue.

What did her daddy do"

This is one of the best later Aerosmith albums. In a few years it can be called a classic, if it's not already. With hits like Love in An Elevator, Janie's Got A Gun and The Other Side how can it not be a classic? I think the tracks What It Takes, My Girl and Young Lust have had some major airplay as well. This is Aerosmith at their best. The only thing that stumps me is the Celtic style Dulcimer Stomp and the extra "hidden" country jig track at the end of What It Takes, they are good they just don't seem to fit with the rest of the regular stuff. Maybe it's a concept for the album that I just am not getting. OH and also on track number four Monkey On My Back the A-Boys use their Giving Dog A Bone base riff. This album is a good starting off point for new Aerosmith fans.

Post Number FIVE HUNDRED

OK so what is so special about this post?

Well it is post number 500 in 15 years so what?

OK so nothing special move it along folks move it along. NEXT!

Album Review: 07 Toying In The Attic With Aerosmith

Album Review: 07

Toying in The Attic With Aerosmith

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. It was one of the reviews I was assigned in the "Go Review That Album" game on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Aerosmith Toys In The Attic

1975 Columbia Records CK 33479

***.5

“Backstroke lover always hidin’ ‘neath the covers

‘Til I talked to your daddy he say

He said you ain’t seen nothin’ ‘til you’re down on a muffin

Then you’re sure to be a changin’ your way” 

This classic rock album produced what would be two of Aerosmith's biggest world-wide hits Sweet Emotion and Walk This Way (which would be revived in the mid-1980s by Run-DMC's rap version cover of it.) It would also help put them onto the rock and roll map and help keep them on it. The album starts off fast with the title track, it loses a little bit of steam after Sweet Emotion though. It had been several years since I've listened to this album, before relistening to it for this review. That was in part due to being tired of hearing Sweet Emotion on the radio and the rap-a-sizing of Walk This Way. At first I didn't like the Run DMC cover but after it had een around for about 15 years I started to at least tolerate it.

An odd fact about this album is that the song Big Ten Inch Record came to the attention of the band via The Doctor Demento Show, Steven Tyler had heard the original recording of the song and the band played it for laughs and for their producer who liked it and wanted it on the album. As a result, in the album credits there is a thank you to Doctor Demento and that is the reason why.

It occurred to me while listening to the title track Toys In The Attic that the chorus harmonies sound very much like some Blue Oyster Cult songs. The style of the second song Uncle Salty near the beginning is similar to a Shania Twain song, I think it is Man, I Feel Like a Woman.

This album doesn't disappoint and if you consider yourself an Aerosmith fan it should be in your collection.

I reviewed the CD version of this, I also have it on Minidisc, but unfortunately I don't have a functioning minidisc player anymore, my portable one crapped out on me years ago. That's OK I only have 4 pre-recorded minidiscs. Someday I'd like to get a Sony minidisc deck for my stereo. 

Album Review: 06 Dissecting Stereos With Alan Parsons What?

Album Review: 06 

Dissecting Stereos with Alan Parsons What?

So Yeah this is getting to be a sort of regular thing. Sorry if this blog hasn't had any other type of posts all these weeks. I decided to schedule a whole bunch of these reviews to get them published so I wouldn't have yet another unfinished project. I have been scheduling them to publish Mondays at 12 Noon. At this rate (if I keep up with the scheduling) they will run every Monday until at least mid August. It also helps me with my posting quota for this year, maybe I'll get out of the red this year.

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. It was one of the reviews I was assigned in the "Go Review That Album" game on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

The Alan Parsons Project Stereotomy

1985 Arista Records AL9-8384

****.5

"I am just a dreamer, when I close my eyes

I can fly so close to the sun, that I can not see it rise

Going round in circles, in a silent sky

I am lost for so many worlds

I can not say why

I can not say why"

Of all the The Alan Parsons Project albums this was the first one I purchased near the time of its release. I don't usually get albums even close to when they are first released unless it is one of my super faves and I am Jonesing for the album. This album is also in the top 3 or 4 of my favorite APP albums.

I feel it is a sort of mix of the typical Alan Parsons sound with the 1980s pop-rock movie soundtrack sound. I could picture movie producers using the title track Stereotomy, Limelight, In the Real World or even Light of the World as a beginning theme song, ending theme song or maybe even the music used for the climax reveal maybe that is just me. The Grammy nominated instrumental track Where's The Walrus? has that Miami Vice/Smugglers Blues kind of sound and feel.

Every track I feel has its own sort of energy that has the ability to lift you up and take you on a journey of the senses.

On the track Light of The World the lead vocalist Graham Dye sounds a bit like John or maybe even Julian Lennon. That alone makes that track even cooler sounding.

I have always found the title "Stereotomy" an interesting word. Pronounced as ster-ee-auto-mee instead of ster-ee-oh-to-my as one might think. I didn't know until I looked on the Wikipedia page for the album that the word Stereotomy was used in an Edgar Allan Poe work "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (not the first time The Alan Parsons Project was inspired by Poe). The word means the cutting of solid shapes. Which would explain the cover art concept for the first pressing of the album.

The first pressing of this album had a cool cover art concept. Wikipedia mentions it. The album had a plastic outer sleeve that was red on one side blue on the other. The cover design used both colors so depending on which side of the plastic cover you had over the cover it would filter out one of the colors making the artwork look different. This color effect was used in the 1950s and 60s a lot, often on sports trading cards and non-sport cards for "secret" messages. Similar to early 3-D simulations that use red and blue colors and those "cheap sunglasses" made of cardboard that have the read and blue plastic film (lighting gels) lenses. 

NOTE: During a collection purge (I think in my infamous 1987 purge that I may or may not go into detail sometime) I had gotten rid of my original vinyl version. I based this review on the CD. In my original RYM review years ago I mentioned having the original pressing at one time, but being unsure if I still had it. I had in fact at one time gotten rid of it and for many years only had the CD copy. In recent months got a copy from Ebay for pretty cheap. Sadly there is a little tear in the plastic sleeve at the corner opening. It is a very tight fit when you slide the cover in the way that appears to be proper so that is probably why the approximately inch long tear is there. Oddly the "hype" sticker appears to be a second hype sticker covering over the remains of an original one that had been damaged.

Album Review: 05 Experiencing The Best Of Jimi Hendrix

Album Review: 05

Experiencing The Best of Jimi Hendrix

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. It was one of the reviews I was assigned in the "Go Review That Album" game on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Jimi Hendrix Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix

1997 MCA Records MCAD-11671

****

"I'm not the only soul who's accused of hit and run
Tire tracks all across your back
I can see you had your fun
But darlin' can't you see my signals turn from green to red
And with you I can see a traffic jam straight up ahead"

This is almost the ultimate Jimi Hendrix greatest hits collection. But why is it called Experience Hendrix when it doesn't even have Are You Experienced? on it? Oh well I guess you can't have everything you want. The tunes that are included on this album are most of the rest of Jimi's greatest hits. Some of the intros and outros of a few of the songs, seem like they are missing something. I'm not sure but I think they weren't quite sure where to begin or end a song from an original segue from one song into the next.

I remember when I was a kid, I had gotten bored of some of the Hendrix songs because I heard them so often on my local "classic" rock radio station. * Back in the days when they called it "Album Oriented Rock" or just plain "rock" just before stations started using the "Classic" rock label. In fact, I used to get annoyed whenever I would hear Hendrix's recording of The Star Spangled Banner from Woodstock. I used to think it was horrible because he was being "creative" with the national anthem. Well when I got older, I started to appreciate creativity by putting your own spin on a standard. Even if Hendrix was stoned while he was playing it, you have to admit that he was a talented guitarist.

I feel that the first part of the album is practically super hit after super hit, then somewhere after Foxy Lady the pace slows down slightly then picks up some and then of course it ends with the show stopping (or rather morning starting) The Star Spangled Banner, maybe because some of those songs I had barely heard, before I had gotten this disc.

* I have a whole lot of songs and artists that I have heard so often I am tired of them. It doesn’t necessarily mean I hate the artists I am just tired of them or their “anthem” songs/hits. Some of the artists on my list are Led Zeppelin (especially Stairway To Heaven), The Doors, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor and probably a few other artists.

Album Review: 04 Christmas In America With Pat Benatar

 Album Review: 04

Christmas Time in America With Pat Benatar

This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Pat Benater Christmas In America/Please Come Home For Christmas

2001 Gold Circle Records GC58804-2

****.5 

“Coz It's Christmas in America

Let the angels sing

It's Christmas in America

Let freedom ring

Let peace resound throughout the world

Especially on this day

It's Christmas in America

God bless the USA”

This song was written as a heart-felt reaction to the tragic events of Setember 11, 2001.

I got this CD single at a time when it was only available via the official Pat Benatar website. In 2003 The Title song Christmas In America was included as a bonus track on the album Go. It is one of my favorite Christmas songs ever.

Album Review: 03 A Royal Night At The Opera With Queen

Album Review: 03
A Royal Night At The Opera With Queen

 This review was originally posted on rateyourmusic. It was one of the reviews I was assigned in the "Go Review That Album" game on their community forums. This version of the review has had some editing and corrections.

Queen A Night At The Opera

1975 Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab UDCD 568

****.5

“I see a little silhouette of a man,
Scaramouch, Scaramouch will you do the Fandango,
Thunderbolt and lightning - very very frightening me –
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo Figaro-Magnifco”

This is the quintessential Queen album. This album shows the band’s versatility and the wide range of their talents, especially their harmonizing. The title and some of the tracks themselves suggest that this is a concept album that the listener is attending “A Night at the Opera” a Rock Opera that is. Even though that is the suggestion it could be argued that it is not a concept album since the style of the songs is a large range, they don’t contribute to a common story and only a couple of them could be called Opera music, of course I think it is mostly because Freddy Mercury and the band were big fans of the Marx Brothers as their next album was called “A Day at the Races” According to Wikipedia they were watching “A Night at the Opera” in the recording studio while working on the album. I like my Marx Brothers fanboy angle better. I’m not sure of my first thoughts of the album the first time I heard it other than knowing the title was also the name of a Marx Brother’s movie and having heard Bohemian Rhapsody on the radio many times. I have also always thought that it possibly could be made into an opera, or at least Bohemian Rhapsody could be made into a sort of mini opera.

Well I wasn’t going to do my review like this, but I think I will give a brief track-by-track comment. This album opens in the first few notes sounding like some sort of science fiction B-grade movie with “Death on Two Legs”. The listener is then shocked a little bit with track two sounding like a 1920s tin can soundtrack to a tennis or cricket match in “Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon.” Then Drummer Roger Taylor gives what can best be called an autosexual serenade to a car on “I’m in Love With My Car”. We get back on track with typical ‘70s album oriented rock with “You’re My Best Friend” one of the tracks on the album that gets a good amount of radio airplay. Then we switch gears and styles on “‘39” an acoustic folky almost sea chantey type feel. Next we come back to modern times with “Sweet Lady” a typical Queen sounding type song.

We get really artistic with “Seaside Rendezvous” which goes back again to the early 20th century tinny (in a tin can sort of way) sounds and the extraordinary vocal talents of Roger Taylor imitating percussion instruments and Freddie Mercury imitating woodwinds. Next “The Prophet’s Song” mixes a marching sort of Native American sound with a bit of a school choir recital that flows into an Acapulco canon and then back into a modern rock band sound and back again. After the fact I can hear some of the styles that would later appear in the theme to “The Highlander” movie. The song sort of drifts from a summer cabin in the rain to the piano dependent “Love of My Life” which gives us some more of Queen’s beautiful harmonizing. Next we add a little harmonizing with a little vaudeville ukulele and a little Beatles influence sound on “Good Company”. I think as a kid I did think that song was by the Beatles.

Near the end we have the most famous song from the album the piece that is most Opera like of the whole album “Bohemian Rhapsody”. The song played a big memorable part in the movie “Wayne’s World” after having been re-released shortly after Freddie Mercury’s death. It crosses a wide range of vocal styles and musical themes exploring high and low sounds fast and slow tempos as well. Then we end the album on the Patriotic instrumental “God Save The Queen”.

The copy of the CD I have and based this review on is an “Original Master” recording (OMR) made by Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs (MFSL) pressed on a Gold CD. Most CDs of the time were from analog recordings and mixed with analog recording with digital mastering (AAD). The OMRs and especially the gold discs were ADD recordings. Back before CDs audiophiles had to get “1/2 speed” master recordings on “Virgin” Vinyl to get their pure sounding records with as little sound distortion as possible. The idea is that there are less impurities in virgin vinyl than ordinary vinyl. These OMRs usually would cost twice as much as the regular version. I started getting into OMRs in the early 80s when the prices for MFSL OMRs started getting more reasonable, just as CDs were starting to take over.