by Bob Dylan

You got a lotta nerve to say you are my friend
When I was down, you just stood there grinning
You got a lotta nerve to say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on the side that’s winning
You say I let you down, you know it’s not like that
If you’re so hurt, why then don’t you show it
You say you lost your faith, but that’s not where it’s at
You had no faith to lose and you know it
I know the reason that you talk behind my back
I used to be among the crowd you’re in with
Do you take me for such a fool to think I’d make contact
With the one who tries to hide what he don’t know to begin with
You see me on the street, you always act surprised
You say, “How are you?” “Good luck,” but you don’t mean it
When you know as well as me you’d rather see me paralyzed
Why don’t you just come out once and scream it
No, I do not feel that good when I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief, perhaps I’d rob them
And now I know you’re dissatisfied with your position and your place
Don’t you understand, it’s not my problem
I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time, you could stand inside my shoes
You’d know what a drag it is to see you

Heart of Gold
by Neil Young

I want to live,
I want to give
I’ve been a miner for a heart of gold.
It’s these expressions I never give
That keep me searching for a heart of gold
And I’m getting old.
Keeps me searching for a heart of gold
And I’m getting old.
I’ve been to hollywood
I’ve been to redwood
I crossed the ocean for a heart of gold
I’ve been in my mind, it’s such a fine line
That keeps me searching for a heart of gold
And I’m getting old.
Keeps me searching for a heart of gold
And I’m getting old.
Keep me searching for a heart of gold
You keep me searching for a heart of gold
And I’m getting old.
I’ve been a miner for a heart of gold.

Warren Zevon died on September 7, 2003, from complications resulting from lung cancer. He put out his last album this year. There’s a song on there they’ve been playing on Lightning 100 lately. It’s sorta his swan song. Somehow you know he’s saying goodbye, but don’t forget him.

Keep Me In Your Heart for Awhile
by Warren Zevon
Shadows are falling and I’m running out of breath
Keep me in your heart for awhile
If I leave you it doesn’t mean I love you any less
Keep me in your heart for awhile
When you get up in the morning and you see that crazy sun
Keep me in your heart for awhile
There’s a train leaving nightly called when all is said and done
Keep me in your heart for awhile
Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for awhile
Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for awhile
Sometimes when you’re doing simple things around the house
Maybe you’ll think of me and smile
You know I’m tied to you like the buttons on your blouse
Keep me in your heart for awhile
Hold me in your thoughts, take me to your dreams
Touch me as I fall into view
When the winter comes keep the fires lit
And I will be right next to you
Engine driver’s headed north to Pleasant Stream
Keep me in your heart for awhile
These wheels keep turning but they’re running out of steam
Keep me in your heart for awhile
Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for awhile
Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo
Keep me in your heart for awhile
Keep me in your heart for awhile

Ok. This is a good song Tracy Chapman.

TALKIN’BOUT A REVOLUTION
Don’t you know
They’re talkin’ bout a revolution
It sounds like a whisper
Don’t you know
They’re talkin’ about a revolution
It sounds like a whisper
While they’re standing in the welfare lines
Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation
Wasting time in the unemployment lines
Sitting around waiting for a promotion
Poor people gonna rise up
And get their share
Poor people gonna rise up
And take what’s theirs
Don’t you know
You better run, run, run…
Oh I said you better Run, run, run…
Finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin’ bout a revolution

2 phrases stick out in my mind. “Armies of Salvation” is an obvious reference to the Salvation Army which provides assistance to the downtrodden. I wouldn’t necessarily equate “Army” with “Salvation.”
And the “waiting for a promotion.” Almost as if even the homeless and downtrodden are waiting for that promotion…. “Promotion” – a word almost equated with the rich and powerful. Or even those employeed. Hence a promotion could mean anything that gets you out of the situation that you’re currently in, to a better situation.

Best line ever:

“Sometimes it’s like someone took a knife baby
edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley
through the middle of my soul…”
–Bruce Springsteen, “I’m on Fire.”

I’ve always wondered why “I’m on Fire” is not on any of the Springsteen greatest hits albums. I mean its a good song and deserves to be on there
Oh yeah. My wish list is up.
“Worship at the mall of your choice.”
–Fark comment.

When does a person actually become famous due to something they did, rather than because someone says they’re famous? America’s favorite pseudo celebrity is Puff Daddy…P. Diddy….Sean Combs. Some of his greatest achievement include:
* Making money from Biggie Smalls’ death by using new lyrics to an old song ( “Every Breath You Take” by Sting )
* Redoing (ruining) such classics as Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.”
* Dating J-Lo.
So now he’s running in the NYC marathon and donating money he raised to charity. How quaint. Am I the first to ask what exactly has Puff Daddy done that would warrant so much media coverage? He is unoriginal. Makes up new lyrics to old songs. Dates drama queens. And America responds by buying his albums.

“Rocky Top” is one of the state songs of Tennessee. Most native born Tennesseans can sing the song by heart. I think I was indoctrinated with the Rocky Top verses in 5th grade when I dressed up as James K. Polk (complete with gray hairsprayed hair), for a Tennessee history presentation. Each member of our class chose a famous Tennessean to dress up as. We sang “Rocky Top” at the end of our presentation. We also danced to “The Tennessee Waltz.”
Rocky Top is also the University of Tennessee fight songs. Whenever anyone needs encouragement at a UT game, they look to the Pride of the Southland to play it for them.
Yet I recently found out that UT does not own the rights to the song. Some lady owns the rights. She gets paid each time anyone plays it. Hence the UT band has to keep up with the number of times they played it. This past football game against Alabama (the one with 5 overtimes), UT’s band played RT 78 times. A trombone player kept count of it.
Supposedly the lady has put UT in her will, so that UT will eventually gain the rights to the song once she passes away. This is kinda like how Michael Jackson owns the rights to the Beatles songs.
Personally I think it is a good money making exercise. She does nothing but sit around and collect income from UT sporting events.

Quite a few band are coming out with greatest hits albums this year just in time for Christmas. Bands that I never thought would do greatest hits albums are doing them. R.E.M.? Best of? Let’s see the playlist:
# Man on the Moon
# The Great Beyond [from Man on the Moon soundtrack]
# Bad Day [previously unreleased]
# What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?
# All The Way To Reno (You’re Gonna Be A Star)
# Losing My Religion
# E-Bow The Letter
# Orange Crush
# Imitation of Life
# Daysleeper
# Animal [previously unreleased]
# The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite
# Stand
# Electrolite
# All The Right Friends [from Vanilla Sky soundtrack]
# Everybody Hurts
# At My Most Beautiful
# Nightswimming
Ok. Losing My Religion? Check. Everybody Hurts? Check. Reasonable. Never heard of The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite or E-Bow the Letter. Are you sure they belong on this CD?
And I realize that Monster was a huge bomb to many of the fans. An electrified departure from their usual yawning stuff. I have about 3 R.E.M. albums, all of which I rarely listen to. I think I keep Monster and Out of Time lying around just in case. I’m going out on a limb here. R.E.M. puts out too many albums. Every other year another album. And I can’t remember much of them. Rarely are they earth shattering. Mostly they’re just a typical R.E.M. album without much fanfare. Without much change. Monster was the true interesting album. The album that inspired me to see them in concert in 1995 (and a rumor that they’d break up in the year 2000; we weren’t that lucky). Are we experiencing the emperor has new clothes effect with R.E.M.? Just because everyone else says they’re cool, does that mean they are?
Counting Crows. Films about Ghosts. Are we sure they need a greatest hits album yet? They’ve been around for less than 10 years and already a greatest hits album. Man, they are really milking it for all its worth. Let’s see the playlist:
# angels of the silences
# round here
# rain king
# a long december
# hangin’ around
# mrs potter’s lullaby
# mr jones
# recovering the satellites
# american girls
# big yellow taxi
# omaha
# friend of the devil
# einstein on the beach
# anna begins
# holiday in spain
# she don’t want nobody near
Let’s see. Mr. Jones? Check. Round Here? Here also. I guess everything is in order. Einstein on the Beach remains the odd man out. You can only find it on the DCG Rarities CD. And I thought Adam Duritz HATED that song. And I don’t know why they need 2 cover songs to make their album (Big Yellow Taxi and Friend of the Devil).
I guess for me it’s sorta hard to take a band seriously when they put out a greatest hits album only 8 years into their discography. It was kinda like seeing “Creed: Behind the Music” on VH1. August and Everything After was a masterpiece. You couldn’t top that. And they didn’t. I have their next 2 albums and I don’t know why. Guys, wait until you have some more albums before prematurely putting out this. I know Greatest Hits albums are always big sellers, but I thought CC wasn’t in it for the money. I guess I was wrong.
And Finally, Sheryl Crow. Track list, please:
# All I Wanna Do
# Soak Up The Sun
# My Favorite Mistake
# The First Cut Is The Deepest
# Leaving Las Vegas
# Strong Enough
# The Light In Your Eyes
# If It Makes You Happy
# Everyday Is A Winding Road
# Picture (with Kid Rock)
# The Difficult Kind
# Steve McQueen
# A Change Would Do You Good
# Home
# There Goes the Neighborhood
# I Shall Believe
Maybe Sheryl’s favorite mistake was putting out the greatest hits album after only 3 studio albums. I’ll pass on “All I Wanna Do,” which is already overplayed. Doesn’t deserve to be on another album. I have the first 2 albums. I passed on the rest after it started being monotonous.
I should have expected a greatest hits albums soon and very soon from Sheryl. She’s the type to get a singing gig at Las Vegas or Branson 10 years from now.
The bottom line is that Greatest Hits albums are easy to produce (songs are already written and recorded) and are very popular among die hard fans and music lovers who are only marginally interested in the band but never bought their album because there were not enough popular songs on one particular album.

There’s an article on Pitchfork Media discussing used CDs ( http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/features/castoffs-and-cutouts/index.shtml ). I won’t bother linking to it directly since it does have some bad language in it.
Albums I have which are on this list:

• Jesus Jones – Doubt – I have this buried in my CDs somewhere. Never listen to it. “Right Here Right Now” was the band’s one hit wonder. “Real Real Real” hit the radio later on and is sorta a forgotten hit. There 192 new and used starting at one penny. on Amazon.com.
• Arrested Development: 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of… – Another forgotten CD. I bought it for “Tennessee.” That’s it. I rarely listen to it. Pitchfork Media says
  

  “Arrested Development was one of the more preachy acts on the scene, a displaced drama club that never got its message straight and seemed to be led by a megalomaniac, mystic frontman, Speech.”

  There are 173 used & new Arrested Development CDs from $0.70 on Amazon.com

• Ned’s Atomic Dustbin – God Fodder – Grey Cell Green. That’s the band’s one hit. Except for maybe the cover of Saturday Night on “So I Married an Axe Murder” soundtrack. Probably better than Jesus Jones. Never got much airplay except for MTV’s buzz bin.
  There are 55 used & new Ned CDs from $2.79 on Amazon.com.
• R.E.M. – Monster – Actually the best album on the list. But R.E.M. fans just don’t like it since it is such a departure from their usual stuff. I actually like it, although I rarely listen to it. “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” Now that’s a good song. A little overplayed, but good. I don’t plan on selling this CD anytime soon.
  On Amazon.com there are 287 used & new Monster CDs from $0.25. Monster is #1 on this guy’s list and the highest number of new and used CDs on Amazon.com.

Then there are the ones I planned on getting at one time or another:

• Breeders – Last Splash – “Cannonball” – that’s the only reason for buying this CD. I borrowed it from a friend one time. I never listen to it, except for Cannonball. There are 125 used & new Breeder CDs from $1.73 on Amazon.com.
• Various Artists – No Alternative – I actually strongly considered buying this CD. It probably has some great songs. But I never got around to doing it.
  67 used & new No Alternative CDS from $1.38 on Amazon.com
• Radiohead – Pablo Honey – “Creep” that’s the only good song on this CD. Pretty much solidified my disdain for Radiohead.
  30 used & new Pablo Honey CDs from $8.99 on Amazon.com.
• Nixons – Foma – This CD is probably the CD I’d most like to own. Yet its one hit – “Sister” may not be enough to warrant buying this CD.
  84 used & new Foma CDs from $0.61 at Amazon.com.

And that’s pretty much it. I’ve never sold any CDs to a used record shop. I guess I figure sooner or later the CDs will be worth something. Maybe not.

Johnny Cash: Dead at 71. What made Johnny Cash so ultra cool was his anti-establishment attitude. He wasn’t going to let whatever the mainstream country music executives tell him what to do. He was going to do things his way. That’s why he was unique. Even played a few concerts in prisons. When was the last time you heard Shania Twain do that?
Some of my favorite Cash songs:

• Ring of Fire – This might be the definitive Johnny Cash song. This song never gets old.
• Folsom Prison Blues There’s a line that echos in my mind about this. “….bet there�s rich folks eating in a fancy dining car they�re probably drinkin� coffee and smoking big cigars.”
• One Piece at a Time – A hokey song about stealing Cadillac parts. It’s pretty funny if you listen to the whole song.
• If I Were a Carpenter – a song which shows John’s love for June. I picked up on this song when June died a few months ago.
• One – (U2 cover) Powerful song. You can tell that Cash’s voice is somewhat weak in this. Yet in some ways the cover is better than the original.
• Personal Jesus – (Depeche Mode cover) – Another strange bird. Probably wouldn’t have heard of this song if Cash hadn’t covered it.
• Hurt – (Nine Inch Nails cover) – barely noticeable on the original NIN album years ago. Cash took the song and made it his own. The video for this song is compelling. Cash is seen in his house peering over old pictures. Throughout we see video and stills of Cash in his prime. Really showed what he had been through. Perhaps the song is an allegory for his drug use years ago and how it affected him. “And you could have it all. My empire of dirt…”

I realize that I’ve only scratched the surface on Cash’s discography. And many of my favorite songs are covers. These are the songs that I know. The songs that I look forward to hearing.
Update: 9/13/03

“To hear that Johnny was interested in doing my song was a defining moment in my life’s work. To hear the result really reminded me how beautiful, touching and powerful music can be.”
–Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails