Friday Vid
No playlist this week, as the days have passed too quickly and I’ve been too busy to cobble together a few songs. Doesn’t mean I will skip sharing a video from the Billboard Hot 100 chart of December 1, 1984. “(Pride) In The Name Of Love” – U2 Last week was Madonna, which launched us towards 1985 and her ascension…
Reader’s Notebook, 11/27/24
Happy Thanksgiving to all! Hope your travels and gatherings are safe and enjoyable. The Right Stuff – Tom Wolfe Somewhere I ran across an author/poster I follow who mentioned that they had recently read this book. In their blurb, they said something about not loving Wolfe’s writing style but still enjoying the book. I’ve never read any of Wolfe’s work…
Weekend Notes
The last weekend update before we dive neck-deep into the holiday season. KU Football How ‘bout them Jayhawks?!?!?! Taking the Colorado Buffaloes out to the woodshed on the sturdy legs of Devin Neal. There could not have been a more appropriate day for #4 to go off than the 33rd anniversary of Tony Sands’ record-breaking performance. It was even sweeter…
Friday Playlist
“Drive” – R.E.M. This playlist took a long time to come together, so I had to call in a couple ringers to bookend the new music. To open, this week’s The Alternative Number Ones over at Stereogum (subscription required). A little shocked Tom only gave it a 9. “People Watching” – Sam Fender Everyone’s favorite Americana-loving Brit is back! For…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 106
Chart Week: November 9, 1985 Song: “You Belong To The City” – Glenn Frey Chart Position: #4, 9th week on the chart. Peaked at #2 for two weeks. The fall of 1985 was one of those proverbial Big Times in my life. I was a freshman in high school, which brought all kinds of new excitement and perils each day.…
Wednesday Links
As noted a couple weeks ago in my Friday Playlist, the legendary Quincy Jones died recently. He had many epic interviews over the years. I had these two saved and re-read them over the past few days. What a storyteller! Quincy Jones Has a Story About That In Conversation: Quincy Jones I had no real interest in reading Alex Van…
High School Hoops Chronicles: Two Game Nights and One Huge Bummer
Two games to catch up on from last week. Tuesday the Irish played their Jesuit sisters from down the block. L was excited because the Braves were missing two of their best varsity players, meaning girls from their kinda crappy JV team had moved up, so she was hoping for two wins. She got them. CHS dominated the JV game…
Weekend Notes
A Great Weekend To Be A Jayhawk Saturday, specifically. First, just before noon Eastern, Bryson Tiller, the #20 recruit in the current senior class, signed to play at KU next year. This was unexpected. KU had chased him hard, but earlier in the week his Overtime Elite teammate Samis Calderon had signed with KU. They are not exactly the same…
Friday Playlist
“Vanish” – Blueburst with Marty Willson-Piper The story behind this song is one of the cooler ones I’ve come across this year. Craig Douglas Miller was in a band in the Nineties that got some major label attention during the great Alternative Rock Revolution but was never signed nor had any real success. Miller eventually retreated from the music world…
Reader’s Notebook, 11/14/24
Let the Right One In – John Ajvide Lindqvist I put several scary books on hold in late September and hoped one or two would come in before Halloween. This one actually came through after the holiday, but that was perfect as it takes place in the week before and after Halloween, 1981. In Sweden. So it’s a little weird.…