Thursday, February 28, 2008

The Sandia Mountains -
My Spiritual Home

All of my adult life, I've loved the Sandia Mountains east of Albuquerque. In the mid-to-late 1980s, when I was attending law school and graduate business school at the University of New Mexico, I often went hiking a couple of times a week, generally by myself, as a means of clearing my head and working off pent-up emotions. Thus I became familiar with most of the major hiking trails in the Sandias. These days I'm lucky to take more than three or four hikes a year of any substantial distance, with maybe one or two being of seven or more miles; my "big" hike in 2007 was to go up and down the La Luz Trail in October, a total distance of about 15-16 miles (with an elevation change of 4,400 feet in either direction, which is where the real "brutality" enters into the equation). However, I still regard the Sandias as my spiritual home, where I go to heal emotional wounds and feel divine influences.


I have plans to do two long hikes this summer in the Sandias. The first will be to hike up Chimney Canyon -- an offshoot of the La Luz Trail that presents a much wilder, steeper, and more direct route to Sandia Crest -- then back down the La Luz. (This is a hike I've done perhaps eight or nine times previously, sometimes by myself; however, I will probably only do it this summer if I can find a hiking companion or two.) The second will be to gain South Sandia Peak via Whitewash Canyon (or, more likely, the massive ridge between Whitewash Canyon and Embudo Canyon), Bear Pass, and the upper part of the Embudito Trail. (While I've reached South Sandia Peak on various occasions via multiple routes, the portion of my proposed route between the first little promontory at the head of Whitewash Canyon and Bear Pass is terra incognita for me, which is part of why it appeals to me.)

Monday, February 25, 2008

Update on Darren's Mission

Darren has now moved to a new area in Comayagüela, Flor del Campo, and has a new companion, Elder Herrera, from El Salvador. They've already enjoyed a little more success than Darren had in his first area, in terms of converts to the church, which I'm sure is gratifying. This photo shows him with Elder Herrera (far left), a member fellow named Joab, Joab's wife Ibeth (the one being baptized), their three kids (in front), the ward mission leader (in back), and Joab's friend (far right). It's still only February, but Darren looks positively baked in the recent photos he's sent us. With two native-Spanish-speaking senior companions in a a row, he must be learning a lot about the language; I just hope he's finding lots of opportunities to insert himself in conversations, as he'll need that experience later on when he's assigned to be a senior companion himself.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Performing at the Ward Party

This photo shows me performing at our ward party on February 23, 2008. I sang two numbers: my song "Changes," a lover's lament that I originally wrote in 1983 (portions of which I had to re-write because I'd long forgotten the words), and the old Julio Iglesias song "Pregúntale," which was a hit in the Spanish-speaking world in 1979. I used my new "Classic 60s" Fender Stratocaster, my Line 6 Spider 112 amplifier, my Squier PA system (which I've had for nearly a year but had never used before in public), and an "On Stage" microphone/mic stand that I bought from Guitar Center for $20 (total). I always have great difficulty remembering lyrics to songs -- which is aggravated by the nervousness I feel when performing in public -- so you can see I had to use cheat sheets taped to my mic stand. I made a few slight boo-boos, but at least I made it all the way through both songs with no major breaks! I think most people at the party were significantly more entertained by the karaoke and the limbo-dancing than by me, but that's typical. (Photo courtesy of Steve Plimpton.)

Friday, February 22, 2008

My Rock 'N' Roll Favorites - the 'T's through the 'Z's


Talking Heads: “Making Flippy Floppy” – I look back on the popularity of Talking Heads and ask myself, “What were people thinking?” However, I can still listen to “Making Flippy Floppy,” which by itself makes it my favorite TH song.
Thin Lizzy: “Angel from the Coast” – I once owned Thin Lizzy’s Jailbreak album on 8-track, and despite the popularity of “The Boys Are Back in Town” and “Jailbreak,” I’ve always regarded “Angel from the Coast” as the group’s best song.
Three Dog Night: “Nobody” – Three Dog Night was originally a great, mostly white R&B outfit before they gave into some inexplicable urge to record bubble-gum pop. “Nobody,” from their first album (now given the title One) exemplifies the harder sound they had at first.
Toto: “Georgy Porgy” – I can’t listen to most of Toto’s stuff these days, so “Georgy Porgy” is my “favorite” by default.
Trower, Robin: “Day of the Eagle” – Robin Trower, as others have noted, served as an important link between Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen (and progeny), keeping the guitar-hero phenomenon alive in the mid-1970s. James Dewar, Trower’s singer/bassist, had a very fine baritone voice as well.
U2: “Mysterious Ways” – U2 is another group that has successfully reinvented itself several times, demonstrating a profound level of creativity. While I like tunes from several stages of their career – I regard “Pride (In the Name of Love)” as perhaps the finest musical tribute ever paid anyone (viz., MLK) -- “Mysterious Ways” stands out for me.
Uriah Heep: “Poet’s Justice” – One of my brothers once had the Demons and Wizards album, and this was the best cut on it.
Van Halen: “Feel Your Love Tonight” – I didn't care for much of Van Halen’s later work. “Feel Your Love Tonight” was the highlight of their first album, which came out at a time when I could appreciate Eddie Van Halen’s guitar virtuosity (i.e., before he had thousands of imitators).
Ventures, The: “Walk Don’t Run” – The Ventures were a perfect fit for the rock instrumental (RI) period of the early 1960s; they weren’t the greatest musicians around, but they did great arrangements of various popular numbers. Their first hit, “Walk Don’t Run,” is my favorite.
Walsh, Joe: “Rocky Mountain Way” – I’ve already mentioned Walsh as a member of the Eagles and the James Gang, but some of his solo work was nice, too.
Who, The: “Bargain” – The broad dynamic range of this song, combined with the near-sociopathic, obsessive lyrics, make it a great rock song. Pete Townshend was once quoted as saying that one of the things that most fascinated him about rock music was its ability to produce spiritual uplift even in its most nihilistic forms. This song perfectly illustrates that notion.
Winwood, Steve: “Spanish Dancer” – Steve Winwood was a teenage prodigy of the first order, with both great instrumental talent and a voice to die for. “Spanish Dancer,” from his (much later) solo album Arc of a Diver, is a great example of his ability to interweave various keyboard parts into a terrific whole.
Wishbone Ash: “Blowin’ Free” – I loved Wishbone Ash’s Argus album, with all its images of medieval kings and knights and epic struggles; however, I am most fond of the cut “Blowin’ Free.”
Yes: “Long Distance Runaround” – I thought Yes kind of went off the deep end of jazz-rock for a period, but the Fragile album had some cool music. The level of musicianship in the group was fairly unprecedented for the era in which it was released, which makes the album still very interesting today.
Young, Neil: “When You Dance I Can Really Love” – I remember reading where a journalist asked Neil Young the secret to his sound, and he replied that he and his group simply get drunk and play really slow. This tune, which appears on his memorable After the Gold Rush album, has a certain simplicity but, paradoxically, a touch of compositional complexity as well; it all adds up to a wonderful tune.
Zappa, Frank: “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow” – Zappa, of course, was a prodigious talent in several ways, but his sense of humor was impeccable, as evidenced by this song.
ZZ Top: “Backdoor Love Affair” – ZZ Top was a great band in the early days, and I still like their first three albums the most. “Backdoor Love Affair” will always remind me of my time in the LDS Church’s Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah in early 1979; I can remember having the power chords from the end of this song playing endlessly in my head as I tried to memorize the missionary discussions.

My Rock 'N' Roll Favorites - the 'Q's through the 'S's

Queen: “Tie Your Mother Down” – Queen’s best rocker, bar none. I also like the period piece “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.”
Ramones, The: “Pinhead” – Gabba Gabba Hey! I got in on the Ramones late, but, having now acquired a greatest-hits compilation, I like several of their early numbers, like “We’re a Happy Family,” “I’m Against It,” “Rockaway Beach,” and “I Wanna Be Sedated.” However, “Pinhead” is my favorite.
Rascals, The: “Good Lovin’” – The (Young) Rascals were a little too blue-eyed soul for my tastes, but, forced to choose a favorite, I'd say it’s the up-tempo “Good Lovin’.”
REO Speedwagon: “Roll with the Changes” – REO was a very over-rated band. I remember liking this song a lot when it first came out, but when I finally realized that the lame-o lead guitar on it probably represented Gary Richrath’s best effort, it sort of fell off my radar.
REM: “Can’t Get There from Here” – REM was another vastly over-rated group, but I like this tune despite the typically wimpy 80s guitar tonality.
Rolling Stones, The: “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” – Many people will disagree, but everything that was/is good about the Stones is contained in this song. From the insistent beat, the classic guitar riff, the defiant I’m-still-here lyrics, to the seamless blending of bass and organ, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” was everything a rock song should be.
Ronstadt, Linda: “You’re No Good” – This song will always remind me of teenage sleep-overs at my friend Ken Foley’s family’s apartment in the summer of 1974. Ken always kept his radio on all night, whereas I had trouble sleeping with music playing; thus the layered stereo guitar parts on this tune conjure up all sorts of late-night memories for me.
Rush: I know lots of people who like Rush, but I’ve never come to appreciate them much; therefore, I have no favorite song of theirs. I don't think much of Alex Lifeson as a guitarist or Geddy Lee as a singer, but I will admit that Neil Peart is a great drummer.
Santana: “Soul Sacrifice” – I love to watch Santana’s performance of “Soul Sacrifice” at Woodstock in 1969, particularly the drumming of Michael Shrieve, who was only 19 years old at the time. In fact, I regard it as the highlight of the entire Woodstock festival.
Seger, Bob: “Hollywood Nights” – Great syncopated guitar, combined with outstanding drumming, make this tune Seger’s best.
Simon & Garfunkel: “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” – I’m less of a Simon & Garfunkel fan now than I was thirty years ago, but I still very much like “Scarborough Fair.”
Simple Minds: “Stand By Love” – I always thought that Jim Kerr the songwriter had his good days and his bad days, but “Stand By Love” was among his best.
Smithereens, The: “House We Used to Live In” – This song was definitely a high point of the late 80s for me. The Smithereens kept the fire going by playing very straight-up rock ‘n’ roll in an era of drum machines and synthesizers.
Springsteen, Bruce: “Tunnel of Love” – Bad drum machine, but great metaphor: love as a scary amusement-park ride that can easily become one’s worst nightmare.
Standells, The: “Dirty Water” – Possibly the greatest rock ‘n’ roll song ever recorded, it had it all: snotty lyrics, the quintessential guitar lick, great beat, nice supporting organ, etc.
Steely Dan: “Peg” – I like various Steely Dan songs for the guitar solos (e.g., “Kid Charlemagne,” “Reelin’ In the Years,” “Rikki Don’t Lose that Number,” et al.), but “Peg,” apart from having the great Jay Graydon guitar solo, also holds special memories for me.
Steppenwolf: “Magic Carpet Ride” – I could live without the “psychedelic” intro and instrumental break, but the “meat” of the song is great: fantastic rhythm and a cadence in the vocals that any rapper should envy.
Steve Miller Band, The: “Jungle Love” – I hated this song at first, as the next-door neighbors in my dorm at BYU (during my freshman year), played it over and over at high volume; however, I came to appreciate it over time.
Stewart, Rod: “Every Picture Tells a Story” – My brother Kelly had Stewart’s Every Picture Tells a Story album on 8-track, and although I associate it with what was perhaps the worst period of my life (seventh grade), I still like the title song and “(I Know) I’m Losing You.”
Stills, Stephen: “Do For the Others” – A great song about breaking up, and an example of Stephen Stills’ songwriting at its best. I always associate his first solo album with highway travel, as one time my older brothers took me with them to a church volleyball tournament in Thatcher, Arizona, and we listened to it in the car for hours on end.

Sting: “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You” – I’m about the farthest thing from a Sting fan in general, especially his singing and songwriting, but he managed to come up with something special in this tune.
Styx: “Cold War” – The fact that I would pick a song off the otherwise lamentable Kilroy Was Here album should indicate what I think of Styx in general; however, Tommy Shaw was a light in the darkness, and “Cold War” was a pretty decent song.
Supertramp: “Long Way Home” – This is another tune that reminds me of my time as a missionary in La Cisterna, Chile, which in some ways was the darkest period of my mission. My companion had Supertramp’s Breakfast In America album on cassette, and I came to like most of the cuts on it.
Sweet, The: “Fox on the Run” – I could never quite comprehend why a competent rock band would try to make a career out of mostly insufferable bubble-gum pop compositions. “Ballroom Blitz” was probably their best pure rock song, but “Fox on the Run” holds better memories for me.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

My Rock 'N' Roll Favorites - the 'M's through the 'P's

Madonna: “Ray of Light” – Madonna, notwithstanding her ever-evolving-but-always-slutty image, has done some great work over the years. I pick “Ray of Light” here because it’s yet another nice running song for the treadmill.
Mamas and the Papas, The: “I Saw Her Again Last Night” – I almost picked “Creeque Alley,” the M&Ps’ musical autobiography, but I still regard “I Saw Her Again Last Night” as their best song.
Mason, Dave: “To Be Free” – Dave Mason has to be the King of the Intro, as most of his songs have tremendous lead-in hooks; unfortunately, the intro is usually the best part of the song.
Mellencamp, John: “ROCK In the USA” – Typically insipid Mellencamp lyrics, but he still made some of the best “guitar” records of the 80s and early 90s.
Missing Persons: “Destination Unknown” – Still one of my absolute favorite new wave songs, “Destination Unknown” reminds me of the fun times I had in the old Albuquerque 11th Ward, the LDS singles ward I attended for a couple of years in the early 1980s.
Monkees, The: “Pleasant Valley Sunday” – A great pop tune! The lyric about someone having a TV in every room to reinforce his affluent image is a tad out of date (who doesn’t have three or four TVs these days?), but otherwise the song’s message still seems timely.
Moody Blues, The: “You and Me” – This song is a vastly overlooked cut from Seventh Sojourn, one that most people, even some Moody Blues fans, aren’t aware of; however, it’s probably the best example of Justin Hayward’s amazing stereo-guitar sound.
Motley Crue: “Dr. Feelgood” – Possibly the greatest tune from the hair-band era, not that that’s saying much.
Mutemath: “Typical” – I’m going to indulge myself here: Mutemath probably isn’t most people’s idea of a “significant” rock band at this point in time, but I went with my son Darren to see them in concert at the Albuquerque’s Sunshine Theater in April 2007 and was very impressed. Not only is “Typical” a fantastic song, but it has a great message as well.
Night Ranger: “You Can Still Rock In America” – It’s sounding like an old refrain at this point, but this was the only song by this group that I liked.
Nirvana: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – I actually like Weird Al Yankovic’s spoof “Smells Like Nirvana” better. I never understood the whole grunge-rock phenomenon, notwithstanding my being properly angst-ridden.
Oingo Boingo: “Weird Science” – There’s no mistaking the fact that this song came out in the 80s, but the arrangement, the instruments, and Danny Elfman’s vocals are so tight that the tune more than stands up today.
Osbourne, Ozzy: “Crazy Train” – Randy Rhoads’s stellar guitar work definitely stands out on this tune.
Paul Revere & The Raiders: “Hungry” – As stated in the liner notes to the Nuggets collection, Paul Revere & The Raiders was one of the great American bands of the 1960s, although their antics on Where the Action Is and other television shows probably caused them not to be taken seriously in any musical sense. I like a number of their songs, but “Hungry” sort of stands out.
Pink Floyd: “Another Brick In the Wall” – David Gilmour’s fantastic guitar solo sets this tune apart from the rest of Pink Floyd’s music for me.
Poison: This band represents the nadir of the hair-band era, and I can’t make myself listen to anything they did. “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” starts out as a nice ballad, but then C.C. DeVille’s guitar solo kills it dead.
Police, The: “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” – I can remember hearing this song a lot during the last few months of my time in Chile in 1980; I can remember thinking the vocals sounded like Chicago, so I was mildly surprised to find out later that it was the Police, a band I’d never heard of before. I regard most of their lyrics as silly these days, but at least this tune still takes me back.
Presley, Elvis: “A Little Less Conversation” - This song was a perfect fit for the movie Ocean's Eleven and its Vegas setting; I also liked the remix that somebody did to give it some zing.
Pretenders, The: “Night In My Veins” – I liked some of the Pretenders’ earlier music, but much of it sounds a little lame today due to the wussy guitar sound that prevailed in the 80s; in contrast, “Night In My Veins” is not only a great song, but it has a big sound as well.
Prince: “1999” – Prince’s prediction of end-of-millenium doom didn’t pan out, but it’s still by far his best song.

My Nephew Aaron's Eagle Scout
Court of Honor

Here I am with my nephew, Aaron P_____, after his Eagle Scout court of honor on February 17. (Aaron had his board of review back in November, but, as often happens, we didn't hold a court of honor for him until several months later.) As I alluded to in a previous post, Aaron became the eighth of eight scouts from our 2004 Philmont crew to get his Eagle, and no one deserved it more. Aaron will attend BYU-Idaho after he graduates from Eldorado High School in May.

Monday, February 18, 2008

My Rock 'N' Roll Favorites - the 'J's


Jackson, Joe: “Steppin’Out” – I‘m not terribly familiar with Joe Jackson’s work, but “Steppin’ Out,” with all its tightly woven piano and synthesizer parts, transcended the whole 80s New Wave genre and remains a classic today.
Jackson, Michael: “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” – Michael Jackson is possibly the creepiest person ever to make it big in American pop music, but his Off the Wall album was huge in Chile when I was there, and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” reminds me of many places and faces from that time of my life.
James Gang, The: “Tend My Garden” – I didn’t become a James Gang fan until Joe Walsh had already left the group, but I still like their first three albums. “Tend My Garden” was my favorite song as a young teenager, although I didn’t realize until much later that it was about cultivating home-grown marijuana. I saw Walsh at “The Beach” in Las Vegas during COMDEX a number of years ago; I think he was backed up by a group of local union musicians, so the songs weren’t as tight as they could have been, but he did nice arrangements of several James Gang numbers, including “Tend My Garden.”
James, Tommy & The Shondells: “I Think We’re Alone Now” – It’s hard not to associate this tune with Tiffany (and a shopping mall) these days, but I still like the original version.
Jam, The: “Going Underground” – The Jam wasn’t a phenomenon in the U.S. like it was in the U.K., but I have a greatest hits CD and like several songs on it, including “Going Underground.”
Jefferson Airplane/Starship: “White Rabbit” – I could never get into the Airplane or the Starship (although I own the extended DVDs of both Monterey Pop and Woodstock, and it’s fascinating to watch what the Airplane passed off as “music” in those chemically altered days). However, “White Rabbit” stands out as their best tune.
Jethro Tull: “Aqualung” – I loved this tune when I was thirteen, undoubtedly due to the scandalous lyrics (e.g., Snot is running down his nose/Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes). Later on, I would have chosen “Teacher” as my favorite, but my memories tend to go further back in time now.
Joel, Billy: “Just the Way You Are” – This tune will always remind me of my freshman year at BYU and the following summer and fall, when I was getting ready to be a missionary. I will never forget making an early-morning delivery run in the fall of 1978 to Alamogordo, New Mexico when I was working for an office-machines company. As I was driving east from I-25 to Carrizozo, I happened to be listening to this song on headphones (using my family’s portable 8-track stereo) when the sun came up. The beauty of the scene and the song, together with the emotions I was feeling anyway about the prospect of leaving home for two years, was overwhelming.
John, Elton: “Tiny Dancer” – Until relatively recently, I would always have chosen “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” as my favorite Elton John tune, just for the out-front guitar and rocking nature of the song. I guess I’ve mellowed a little bit, as I can appreciate Elton’s ballads more nowadays.
Journey: “Anyway You Want It” – I’ve never been a Journey fan, and even less a Steve Perry fan, but at least “Anyway You Want It” has the distinction of being the tune that blasts from the stereo in Rodney Dangerfield’s golf bag during the fairway-dancing scene in Caddyshack.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

My New Guitar

I recently purchased an almost-new, Mexican-made "Classic 60s" Fender Stratocaster. I'd heard good things about the high-end "mexi-strats," and, looking at photos of the "Classic 60s" model online, I fell in love with the "aged" look of the pickup covers. knobs, and headstock. (I really liked the Shell Pink custom color, although eventually I decided Burgundy Mist and Inca Silver were acceptable, as well.) After dithering for several months, I finally bought this beauty on eBay; not only was it Inca Silver, but the original owner had installed US-made "vintage" pickups, lending it even more of a 1960s cachet.


After first owning a nice Gibson SG years ago, I'd long played Squier electric guitars (Fender's budget line, generally made in the Orient) and didn't think there was much benefit in "upgrading" to an actual "Fender," whether made in Mexico or America. I still like my Squiers, particularly my Indonesian-made "'51," which was a heck of a bargain at $100; however, it was immediately apparent that "real" Fenders (starting with the nicer "mexi-strats" and moving on up to the American-made models) have significantly better electronics than does the Squier line. The difference isn't obvious at low volume levels and "clean" settings, but once you start driving the pickups a little, my new guitar has much more power and clarity of sound. And it has that look!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

My Rock 'N' Roll Favorites - the 'I's, 'K's, and 'L's

In going through the lists of rock artists on Yahoo, I've found that an unusual number of significant rock groups seem to start with the letter 'J'; therefore, I'll skip over the 'J's and do them separately.
Idol, Billy: "White Wedding" - What a great, creepy-sounding song! It sounds like the soundtrack to someone's worst nightmare.
INXS: "The One Thing" - I first remember hearing this tune on American Bandstand back in 1982, well before INXS became a phenomenon in the U.S. It has one of those cool-sounding guitar riffs (another is "All Right Now" by Free) that require two guitars because the chords are voiced too closely for just one. I liked some of the group's later material, but nothing came close to "The One Thing" for me.
Iron Butterfly: "Unconscious Power" - No one remembers Iron Butterfly today for anything besides "In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida," but I really liked their first album, Heavy, which my brother Jeff brought home one time. (Except for the drummer and the keyboardist, the band's lineup completely changed by the time they recorded In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida, their second album.) "Unconscious Power" is the clear highlight of Heavy, having an irresistible guitar/bass hook -- and then the bass line takes flight through the chorus, which still makes me wonder if some studio pro didn't sub for the group's bassist on that cut.
Kansas: "Opus Insert" - I think of Kansas as a band that tried to be America's answer to Yes; however, they never quite had the musicianship to pull it off, as complex as some of their music was. I did own Leftoverture on 8-track when I was in high school, however, and I still love the synth intro to "Opus Insert," as it somehow reminds me of a sunrise over the Sandia Mountains during my childhood.
KC and the Sunshine Band: "Please Don't Go" - Not having been much of a disco aficionado, I can't say I was ever a fan of this group, but "Please Don't Go" reminds me of Ñuñoa, a comuna of Santiago, Chile where I lived and worked from December 1979 through January 1980.
Kiss: "Cold Gin" - This song, off Kiss's very first studio album (issued in 1974), still has the best hook of any Kiss song I've ever heard, although the lyrics are pretty silly. Let's face it -- but for the Kabuki-style makeup and the stage theatrics, Kiss would never have made it out of the NYC bar scene. (I was conned into working security for a Kiss/Aerosmith concert at the Journal Center in Albuquerque a few years ago, and, given that some pimple-faced kid kept yelling at me not to watch the concert, I really only heard it; simply put, in terms of musical ability, Kiss couldn't carry Aerosmith's underwear.)
Knack, The: "Baby Talks Dirty" - I can't say I care much for the subject matter of this tune, but I list it here because it, also, reminds me of Chile (in this case La Cisterna, another comuna of Santiago where I lived and worked from February to June 1980). I remember hearing the song one time on the Chilean version of American Bandstand (the name of which escapes me now); I think they translated the title as "La nena no dice obscenidades," which essentially means "Baby Doesn't Talk Dirty." (I guess it's a good thing they couldn't understand the words.)
Led Zeppelin: "Ramble On" - I read somewhere recently where some critic had put this song on his top ten list of worst rock lyrics. I guess the Tolkien references do seem pretty trite nowadays after the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings movie trilogy; however, the mention of Gollum and Mordor in a rock song in 1969 was a novel concept to say the least. Having first heard the song when my brother Kelly bought Led Zeppelin II in 1970, and associating it with many events of my childhood, I can't help liking it -- it always has been, and always will be, my favorite Zep tune.
Lightfoot, Gordon: "Sundown" - I guess Gordon Lightfoot is a little more folksy than rock 'n' roll, but I've always liked his songwriting and understated vocal style, of which "Sundown" represents the pinnacle in my opinion.
Loverboy: "Notorious" - I absolutely love the keyboard intro to this song, and, as I remember, the video for it was great; however, it was released just about the time the Seattle grunge-rock thing started breaking, and I think that was the last I heard of Loverboy. (I remember seeing Mike Reno, Loverboy's singer, on VH-1 talking about how Kurt Cobain killed his career, but I don't think history will have much regard for grunge-rock.)
Lovin' Spoonful, The: "Summer In the City" - I tend to like "edgy," and "Summer In the City" was about the edgiest thing the Spoonful ever recorded.
Lynyrd Skynyrd: "Saturday Night Special" - I don't think I ever owned a Lynyrd Skynyrd record, so I only know them from the six or seven songs of theirs that I've heard on the radio. "Saturday Night Special" has some pretty cool instrumental parts -- the drums, bass, and guitar (especially with the slapback echo added) all impress -- and I regard it as Ronnie Van Zant's best vocal performance as well.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

My Rock 'N' Roll Favorites - the 'G's and 'H's

Gabriel, Peter: "Big Time" - Back in the 80s, when MTV was really about music and less about cultural propaganda, I enjoyed Peter Gabriel's inventive videos, particularly the one for "Big Time." Moreover, I can actually listen to the song today, which I can't say about all the music I used to like in the 80s.
Garbage: "Stupid Girl" - I like Shirley Manson's voice, even if I'm not a big Garbage fan in general; however, "Stupid Girl" is a great song with a fantastic bass-and-drums groove, perfect for running on the treadmill.
Genesis: "Land of Confusion" - My wife is a big Genesis fan, but "Land of Confusion" is about the only one of their songs that I can bear to listen to.
Go-Go's, The: "Our Lips Are Sealed" - I have much less regard for the Go-Go's than for the Bangles, my favorite girl group, but "Our Lips Are Sealed" is still a great pop song.
Grand Funk Railroad: "Rock 'N' Roll Soul" - I could write a lot about Grand Funk, but I won't. I can remember hearing the "red" album and the Survival album a lot when one of my brothers owned them, and later on my friend Ken Foley owned the We're An American Band album. I liked the early stuff like "Paranoid," "Inside Looking Out," and "Winter and My Soul," and later I liked "Walk Like a Man"; however, when I bought a GFR greatest hits CD a few years ago, I found that the song I liked the most on it was "Rock 'N' Roll Soul," a tune I wasn't previously familiar with.
Green Day: "Longview" - I'm not a Green Day fan, but at least I wouldn't change the station if "Longview" came on the radio.
Guess Who, The: "No Time" - Burton Cummings was one of the best two or three singers in the history of rock 'n' roll, and the level of musicianship was generally high in the group, but I find now that "No Time" is the only Guess Who song I can listen to with some frequency. I love that distorted tone Randy Bachman got in the song's guitar hook -- I was actually able to reproduce it one time using a Squier Stratocaster and a small Peavey practice amp, but then I forgot how.
Hall and Oates: "She's Gone" - No doubts about this one. I've always loved this song and the nostalgia it makes me feel for days gone by. It exemplifies a style of music that I used to refer to as "space music," probably due to its ambience and the fact that the sound depends at least as much on what isn't being played as what is.
Heart: "Love Alive" - I used to like Heart a lot more than I do these days, probably because I now associate their music mentally with several unfortunate aspects of going through high school and college. However, I still like the Wilson sisters' playing and singing on "Love Alive." (Heart is one of the few groups I saw in concert in their heyday, when they played the old Albuquerque Civic Auditorium in the summer of 1978.)
Hendrix, Jimi: "Love or Confusion" - I wasn't even aware of this tune before I purchased a DVD of Eric Johnson's 1988 Austin City Limits concert, in which he did a great cover version. However, Johnson made me want to go revisit some of Hendrix's lesser-known recordings, and now I think "Love or Confusion" is Hendrix's best -- it's almost certainly the best vocal performance he left on tape.
Herman's Hermits: "Can't You Hear My Heart Beat?" - I have to go way back for this one, but my brother Kelly once owned HH's On Tour album, and this was the best song on it.
Hollies, The: "On a Carousel" - I remember having this song on vinyl around our house, and the fact that it brings back good childhood memories makes it my favorite. (I also like "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress," which now reminds me of a mobile arcade that once set up shop in my area when I was a missionary in San Fernando, Chile. The arcade owner blasted music over tinny PA speakers -- I'm sure the neighbors just loved it -- and "Long Cool Woman" was apparently one of only about four or five records that he had.)
Holly, Buddy: "Not Fade Away" - I can't make myself listen to much of Buddy Holly's work, although I can see how it helped pioneer the rock 'n' roll that came later. "Not Fade Away," however, has that odd sort of syncopation, which makes it rhythmically interesting, at least.
Human League, The: "Mirror Man" - The Human League now sounds like a typically execrable 80s New Wave band, but "Mirror Man" still stands out as one of the better tunes of the era.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Dorine

I first became aware of my wife Dorine when I was 13 years old (she was 14); I developed a huge crush on her as the result of seeing her at a church activity (we were in separate wards, but they met at the same building). I did write her a stupid "you don't know me, but" letter, and we talked a few times; however, I never took her out, and eventually I became interested in other girls as I entered and proceeded through high school. Dorine attended a different high school and, in any case, was a year ahead of me in school. Thus she graduated in 1976 and I knew nothing more about her until 1978, when I heard she'd married a non-Mormon fellow she'd been dating. She had her first baby, Kristy, late that year -- coincidentally, on the same day I received my "call" to serve a church mission in Chile.


When I returned to the U.S. at the end of 1980, my mother made sure I had a dental appointment (since I hadn't had any dental care in the preceding two years) before I went back to college. It turned out that Dorine was working at the time for our family dentist, Dr. John Eilar, and I remember her greeting me in a friendly manner when I went in. She had a second daughter, Heidi, later in 1981, but in 1983 her world was turned upside down when her husband Rick suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 26. Worse still, in early 1984 Heidi was diagnosed with leukemia and started a three-year regimen of chemotherapy at the University of New Mexico Hospital's pediatric oncology clinic.

I had gone back to BYU for three semesters after my mission, but I finally tired of being away from home (my weekend job as a respiratory equipment tech at Utah Valley Hospital, which had me working 12-hour shifts on Saturdays and Sundays, wasn't helping my morale or my social life). My last semester there (Winter 1982), I ended up taking 12 credit hours -- versus the 15 that I knew I needed to keep my scholarship -- sensing subconsciously that I needed to return to Albuquerque. After I got back, I attended the local singles ward for a couple of years, but none of the relationships or romantic interests I had there worked out. I remember that my father, who happened to be Dorine's bishop (she having moved into my parents' ward at one point), told me in April 1984 that he really wished I'd ask her out. Shortly thereafter, I finally decided I'd had enough of the singles ward and moved my membership back to my home ward.

It didn't take long for Dorine to ask me out, although I was still pretty uncertain about the whole deal. (Whereas Dorine had been my ideal for at least a couple of years when I was a teenager, I, as a 25-year-old who'd never even dated anyone for longer than a month or two, at first saw nothing ideal about marrying someone who'd been married and had two children.) Our relationship proceeded in fits and starts for several months, through the summer of 1984, although I gradually warmed back up to her; I remember her visible relief when we finally started necking after our dates. Perhaps wanting to spur me into action, she accepted a date with someone else sometime in September, and the two of us, facing a choice between breaking up and getting married, opted for the latter. (Even now it seems like a weird way to get engaged to be married, but there it is.) A few months later, we married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, and although I didn't legally adopt Kristy and Heidi for another year, church policy at that time allowed them to be sealed to me at the same time I married their mother. (It sounds funny now to say that my first child was born the day I got my mission call, and that my second was born nine months after I returned from my mission.) Dorine and I have now been married for over 23 years; to say the least, I've grown pretty attached to her in that time.

The first photo above is of Dorine as she appears now, and the second was taken in 1985, shortly after our marriage, when the girls were still six and three years old, respectively.

Monday, February 11, 2008

My Rock 'N' Roll Favorites - the 'E's and 'F's


Eagles, The: "Life In the Fast Lane" - I sort of define the Eagles' career in four stages. There was the pre-Joe Walsh era, during which I really didn't like them (aside from "One of These Nights"), as they tended to be too "country" for me. Then there was the pre-Tim Schmitt era, which produced Hotel California and "Life In the Fast Lane," still my favorite song of theirs. Then came the pre-breakup era, during which they recorded The Long Run, which contains one of my favorite slow songs ever, "I Can't Tell You Why." Finally, there's the reunion era, about which I can't get very excited.
Earth, Wind & Fire: "That's the Way of the World" - I don't know why I'm including EW&F in this article, since they certainly are more R&B than rock 'n' roll; however, I had to get a plug in for this song, which reminds me now of good times in the late 70s. Several years ago I was wandering around downtown Las Vegas by myself one day, and the "Fremont Street Experience" PA system happened to play this song; I was in a reflective mood anyway, but at that point I lost it completely.
Electric Light Orchestra: "Don't Bring Me Down" - The whole "rock orchestra" thing never worked as far as I was concerned, but "Don't Bring Me Down" was the rocking-est of their tunes and therefore my favorite.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer: "From the Beginning" - I own a copy of the Ramones documentary End of the Century, and I think it's funny how it uses ELP as the prime example of mid-70s onanistic rock excess. I tend to agree -- ELP was highly over-rated and seemed to believe the hype -- but the understated "From the Beginning" is still a nice number.
Eurythmics, The
: "Would I Lie to You?" - It has guitar on it...end of story.

Fleetwood Mac: "Hypnotized" - Thirty years ago, I never would have imagined picking a Bob Welch tune as my favorite Mac song; at that point in time, I would have picked either "Tell Me All the Things You Do" (the Danny Kirwan song from Kiln House, which a local Albuquerque band named Traveller did a great version of -- much better than the original) or "You Make Loving Fun" (the Chris McVie number from Rumours). Time puts things in perspective, however, and actually my two favorite Mac songs now are Welch's, the other being "Bright Fire" from the Penguin album.
Flock of Seagulls, A: "I Ran" - This band may be the best proof of the vacuousness of early-80s New Wave music, but at least "I Ran" made a good dance number.
Fogelberg, Dan: "Phoenix" - When I was a missionary in Chile, the girlfriend of one of my companions sent him the Phoenix album on cassette (which also included "Longer," a song that Chilean radio played into oblivion). I can't say it made me a life-long Fogelberg fan, but I have "Phoenix" on my iPod and listen to it once in a while.
Foo Fighters, The: "End Over End" - My daughter Devery turned me on to this song, as it reminded her of me and the type of music I like to listen to and play on my guitar. It's a great "running" song -- when I'm on the treadmill and my "gym" iPod Shuffle happens to play it, I never skip to the next song. (I also like "I'll Stick Around," which I think was the Foo Fighters' first single.)
Foreigner: "Feels Like the First Time" - Foreigner should now be known (and loathed) primarily for its terrible lyrics (cf. "Jukebox Hero," "Hot Blooded," "Urgent"). However, at least "Feels Like the First Time" and "Waiting for a Girl Like You" bring back memories of good times for me in 1978 and 1983, respectively.
Frampton, Peter: "Do You Feel Like We Do?" - I'll admit I owned Frampton Comes Alive when it was a big hit in 1976. Peter Frampton is actually a fine musician, someone I'd be willing to pay to see in concert (and there aren't many people who fit that definition these days); however, I think less of his songwriting and singing voice now than I once did.
Free: "Oh I Wept" - Most people know Free these days for "All Right Now," which is a great song; however, "Oh I Wept," also off their Fire and Water album, holds the most haunting memories for me.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

New Mexico

I grew up in New Mexico and have lived most of my life here. Being a native, I grimace a little when I hear outsiders or recent move-ins rag on how "dry" and/or "ugly" the state is, but I suppose New Mexico is an acquired taste of sorts. Personally, I marvel at all it has going for it: mountains, forests, several stunning wilderness areas, beautiful state parks and lakes, Carlsbad Caverns (not to mention various other, wilder caves that are permitted for recreational caving), dozens of ghost towns and other sites of historical interest, picturesque mountain towns (e.g., Ruidoso, Silver City, Red River), the Philmont Scout Ranch, and the prettiest pastel sunsets I've ever seen.


One place I've come to love over the years is White Sands National Monument, which is located west of Alamogordo and Holloman Air Force Base. At some point, someone hit on the idea of sledding on the fine-powder gypsum dunes there using masonite boards, and we've done that six or seven times in the last fifteen-or-so years. (See accompanying photo.) The sleds are very inexpensive to fabricate -- all it takes is a saw to section up a 4' x 8' (3/8"-thick) masonite sheet (preferably the kind that has one shiny side and one rough side) into 18"-20" widths, a drill to make a hole for a short section of rope to use as a handle, and some paraffin for waxing in between runs. And it's a real hoot to do! (Caveat: Some care needs to be taken in selecting a dune to sled down, as the jolt one gets at the bottom of the dune can cause injury.)

Combining a trip to White Sands with a stay at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, a wonderful, desert camping spot a few miles south of Alamogordo, makes for an inexpensive but enjoyable weekend. (Oliver Lee is also a historical site: in addition to being an old homestead, it's located at the mouth of Dog Canyon, where several epic confrontations between the U.S. Cavalry and the Apaches took place in the 19th Century.) I wonder what it would take to get Dorine to go there again soon?

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Rockclimbing





Rockclimbing is something that I was interested in for a long time, starting in late 1995. I won't write a long article about my involvement in it, but suffice it to say that I was never very good at either bouldering -- much though I enjoyed my regular outings to the boulders with my friend Rod Williamson -- or roped climbing, which in the end Rod and I did very little of (despite the fact that at one time I had amassed a tremendous rack of climbing gear -- see photo above -- which I later sold on eBay). We only ever climbed in the Sandia Mountains east of Albuquerque, and in all, we did the "West Face Traverse" (5.5) on the Tombstone three times, "Estrellita" (5.8) twice, and "Miss Piggy" (5.8) once. Rod, who at one time was an excellent climber, did all of the hard leads; however, he was already starting to be hampered by arthritis (which essentially prevents his even bouldering these days). And, apart from my lack of ability, I was limited by drop-dead acrophobia.

The climbing photos above are all from the last time Rod and I did the Tombstone in September 2002. The first one shows me leading the first pitch (minus the actual traverse, which we always did as a separate pitch). The second shows me belaying Rod on the traverse, and the third one shows me arriving at the top. (I took a few photos of Rod leading the last pitch, although they were all shot directly into the sun; later, I reached up and handed Rod the camera so that he could take the last photo before I topped out.) The black-and-white photo, taken from a guidebook, gives some perspective on the formation: the route starts near the right side of the sunlit face, traverses to the left side at mid-height, and wanders around from there to the top.

I'd like to start bouldering regularly again, even though, having aged, I'm a worse climber now than ever. However, it isn't something I enjoy doing by myself; aside from concerns about safety, it's simply more fun with someone else along.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

My Rock 'N' Roll Favorites - the 'D's

Deep Purple: "Highway Star" - Deep Purple will forever remind me of Tom Gower, a friend of mine who perished, along with three other members of our ward, at Yellowstone National Park in 1973 during an Explorer "super-activity," from which I was blessedly absent. (A freak storm caught the group out in their canoes in the middle of Yellowstone Lake, creating 3' waves that scattered everyone and swamped several of the boats, in turn causing the four victims, which included both adult leaders [one of whose body was never recovered] to die of hypothermia in the 40-degree water.) Anyway, Tom was a big Deep Purple fan, and I can still remember listening to "Highway Star" with him in his car (undoubtedly on 8-track), which tune thankfully wasn't played to death like "Smoke On the Water," also off the Machine Head album.
Def Leppard: "Photograph" - Def Leppard is another one of those groups, like Bon Jovi, whose music I find pretty forgettable notwithstanding the numerous hits they had; however, "Photograph" is a stellar composition and transcends the rest of the band's work in my mind.
Devo: "Jerkin' Back 'N' Forth" - I remember reading a book some twenty years ago by Lex De Azevedo, the composer of the Mormon-themed Saturday's Warrior (and, if I'm not mistaken, a former rock 'n' roll record producer himself), in which he was trying to drive home the point that rock music has evil influences. De Azevedo gave this song as an example of an obvious sexual innuendo -- except it must not have been all that obvious, since he found it necessary to embellish on the title by calling it "You Got Me Jerkin' It Back and Forth" (my italics).

Dire Straits: "Industrial Disease" - I almost put "Sultans of Swing," but how can anyone resist lyrics like these?


Doctor Parkinson declared, "I'm not surprised to see you here;
You've got smoker's cough from smoking, brewer's droop from drinking beer.
I don't know how you came to get the Bette Davis...knees,
But worst of all, young man, you've got industrial disease!"
He wrote me a prescription -- he said, "You are depressed.
I'm glad you came to see me to get this off your chest.
Come back and see me later (ding!) -- next patient, please!
Send in another victim of industrial disease!"
Doobie Brothers, The: "South City Midnight Lady" - I once was a big Doobie Brothers fan, and I especially liked Tom Johnston tunes like "Without You," "China Grove" and "Listen to the Music." However, now I find that only the Pat Simmons acoustic numbers have stood the test of time: "South City Midnight Lady," "Clear as the Driven Snow," "Black Water," etc.
Doors, The: "Touch Me" - I remember listening to my brother Roger's 45 single of "Touch Me" on our family's old Montgomery Ward stereo. It's funny, but I didn't even notice the orchestral backing on the record until I heard it as an adult; it gives the song a slightly over-produced sound, but it's still a great record.
Duran Duran: "View to a Kill" - Most of Duran Duran's work from the 80s sounds cheesy now, as does a lot of the music in general from that era. "View to a Kill" (from the James Bond movie of the same name) sounds a little less cheesy than most of their music, however.
Dylan, Bob: "Lay Lady Lay" - I always read about people who say they finally "got" Dylan after not understanding him for a time; heck, I'm still waiting to "get" him some thirty-five years after first listening to his stuff! (One person who "got" Dylan dead to rights, however, was Weird Al Yankovic in his spoof "Bob.") Nonetheless, "Lay Lady Lay," unsavory though it may be in a thematic sense, is by far my favorite of his songs.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Growing Up on Gretta

I originally meant this post to be a positive reminiscence on my childhood and adolescence, but my first attempt rapidly devolved into a wallow in self-pity and a litany of regrets; therefore, I'll try it again.

My parents moved in 1955 to their home on Gretta Street in northeast Albuquerque, and except for college and my church mission, I lived there all my life (from my birth in 1959) until I got married in late 1984. (My mother still lives there, along with my sister and her husband.) It was, and still is, a working-class neighborhood full of rough-cut people, and, given the relative lack of indoor diversions in those days, I spent a lot of time outdoors with various kids in the neighborhood. I attended McCollum Elementary, which was just a short walk away from our house, in grades 1 through 6. I had an agonizing start in first grade, being change-averse even at that age and having a less-than-sympathetic teacher; as a result, it took several years for me to start enjoying school. But eventually I came into my own, socially and academically, and now I look back on fifth and sixth grades as very good years. (This picture of me, minus the glasses that I so hated, was taken in the fall of 1969, when I was in fifth grade. Note the Converse Chuck Taylors, which in those days probably cost $6.00 or $7.00 and could only be purchased in sporting-goods stores.)

I didn't have many close friends as a child. My closest friend was my cousin, Randy Baca, whose family lived across the street from us most of the time I was growing up. Randy, however, was two years ahead of me in school and had his own circle of friends that continually took precedence over me. (I never held that against him then, but I probably resent it a little now, especially when I contemplate the horrible year I had at Kennedy Junior High in seventh grade and how Randy, who was still at Kennedy that year, could have taken me under his wing and made my transition from elementary school a little easier.) Thus I also spent a lot of time by myself -- shooting baskets, reading, listening to music, and, later on, playing the guitar.

Some of the neighbors I remember, in addition to the Bacas, were the Lowes, the Smitharts (who lived next door and had several daughters whom I came not to care for, particularly, although I'm sure the feeling was mutual), the Dykes, the Mondes, and the Cordobas. (The latter two couples, now seemingly as old as my mother, still live in the neighborhood.) Among other things, I used to like to climb the trees in our yard, ride bicycles, walk down to the drugstore for penny candy, read comic books, play hide-and-seek, listen to my brothers' records, and play on various swingsets and jungle gyms that we had over the years in our backyard.

Probably the greatest day of my youth was when my parents bought me a Honda CL-70 motorcycle shortly after I turned thirteen in the summer of 1972. I had long begged my mother for a minibike or small motorcycle, and to this day I'm not certain why she and my dad finally gave in; however, that little Honda was my salvation for a couple of years, as it gave me both freedom to come and go as I pleased and a ready-made way to alleviate boredom. I shudder now to think of myself as a thirteen-year-old, riding around in heavy traffic or all around the "mesa" east of town -- which essentially doesn't exist anymore, as it's all been developed or turned into "open space" -- but obviously I survived without any major injuries. (After I got my "car" driver's license, I ended up trading the motorcycle to a friend for a cheap little "quadraphonic" 8-track stereo system -- a very one-sided deal, albeit one that my mother, by that time, was happy to make -- but, shortly thereafter, a mutual acquaintance totaled the Honda, and very nearly himself in the process, by following a car too closely and colliding with it.)

After my seventh-grade debacle at Kennedy, I ended up attending a private special-ed school in downtown Albuquerque in eighth grade. (The old house in which the school was located isn't there anymore, as the Greek Orthodox church next door bought the property and razed everything.) Then I attended Grant Junior High in ninth grade, starting out in the special-ed program there but quickly migrating into regular classes; if I'd known that Grant would be such an improvement over Kennedy, I'd have moved heaven and earth to go there right out of elementary school! Finally, I attended the local high school in grades 10-12. I had another rough adjustment during my sophomore year, but luckily I had a new best friend, Ken Foley, who helped me over the rough spots.

I didn't leave home for the first time until my freshman year of college at Brigham Young in 1977. I decided to attend summer school right out of high school to get a jump on things, which in retrospect was a mistake, as I really needed that summer to try to sort a few things out before heading off to college. Consequently, it took all of the following summer and fall to prepare for my church mission.

These days, visiting my mother at her house is like getting caught in a time warp, as the memories come flooding back every time I go there. The tree in her front yard is huge now, and on several occasions I've had to cut low-hanging branches off it. However, the tree bears one unmistakable reminder of my childhood: on a whim, while climbing the tree one time, I folded a small branch back over the larger branch out of which it was growing, and it has since grown massive in that same "folded-over" position. (Ironically, the fact that the branch has thus grown up, instead of out and down, has saved it thus far from having to be cut off.)

Sunday, February 3, 2008

My Rock 'N' Roll Favorites - the 'C's


Carpenters, The: "Superstar" - As a teenager, I couldn't really appreciate the Carpenters for what they were, a great pop band with one of the greatest, most distinctive voices in the history of recorded music. (The story of Karen Carpenter is a true American tragedy, especially given the utter preventability of her demise from the secondary effects of anorexia nervosa.) I regard "Superstar" as the epitome of the Carpenters' sound and the sad beauty inherent in Karen's voice.
Cars, The: "Nightspots" - In the late 1970s, the Cars presaged what later came to be known as New Wave. Their quirky sound and Ric Ocasek's offbeat songwriting were just what the post-disco era called for, and "Nightspots," off their Candy-O album, is a roller-coaster that leaves one slightly dizzy, but gratified.
Clapton, Eric: "Mainline Florida" - Clapton has made a lot of great records over the years, but "Mainline Florida," from his 461 Ocean Boulevard album, is simply one of the top two or three guitar riffs in the history of rock 'n' roll; it's so great, in fact, that I can overlook the lack of a killer guitar solo in the song. (Based on Clapton's
recent autobiography, it dates to one of his big drinking periods -- no big surprise.)
Cooper, Alice: "No More Mr. Nice Guy" - Great guitar, great lyrics. Alice's original band wasn't exactly a bunch of virtuosos, but they came up with some pretty durable music nonetheless.
Cope, Julian: "Charlotte Anne" - Julian Cope surely rates as one of the weirdest people ever in popular music -- not to mention one of the most narcissistic in his day -- but I love some of his mid-to-late 80s material. "Charlotte Anne," "Trampolene," and "World Shut Your Mouth" are all among my favorite pop songs ever.
Cream: "Badge" - The story is that Eric Clapton mis-read George Harrison's writing, and thus "Bridge" became "Badge" when Cream went to record the song; notwithstanding, it is the "bridge," with that distinctive Leslie/Echoplex sound, that makes the song special.
Creedence Clearwater Revival: "Born On the Bayou" - Creedence purposely sought out a uniquely American "roots" sort of vibe in their music, and to me there is no better example of that sound than "Born On the Bayou"; the distorted, tremolo'ed solo guitar sound makes the song. (A close second would be "Fortunate Son." I'll never forget the first time I saw the film Forrest Gump -- that scene where "Fortunate Son" plays over the helicopter flying Forrest and Bubba to their unit in Vietnam was overpowering.)
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: "Woodstock" - CSN&Y recorded many memorable tunes in their early days (I could never connect with their later stuff), but their recording of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" had it all -- great tune, great harmonies, and great interplay among the instruments. I'm not a great fan of Neil Young's guitar solos, but the one in this tune works somehow, adding a certain manic quality.
Culture Club: "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" - The first time I saw the video for this song on MTV when it was new, I remember saying to myself (about Boy George), "That's either the ugliest guy...or the ugliest girl...I've ever seen!" It's actually a pretty decent tune, much better than the other Culture Club songs I'm familiar with.

The Boy Scouts

I never really participated in scouting when I was a youngster, despite the fact that the Boy Scouts have always been the "achievement" arm of the LDS church's young men's program. (When I was eleven years old, I took piano lessons on Saturday mornings when the "Guide Patrols" were doing their scouting stuff, and then I didn't get along with our scoutmaster when I turned twelve and entered young men.) However, I became a believer in scouting when I had a son, and for one important reason: it gave Darren and me, who have largely divergent interests otherwise, something to share and an excuse to spend time together.

I always chafed when coming in contact with the scouting establishment, as professional scout leaders (or "lifers," as I refer to them) seemed to believe that the boys were there to fulfill the needs of the program, not the other way around; however, once we got past all the sanctimonious lectures and bureaucratic red tape, we always had loads of fun. The scouting-related memories I will always treasure include: (1) scout camp at Camp Frank Rand (near Pojoaque, New Mexico) in 2000 and 2001; (2) a three-day backpacking trip along the west face of the Sandia Mountains; (3) a twenty-mile bike ride to, and then various aquatic activities (and camping) at, Cochiti Lake; (4) the fifty-mile bike ride I took with the kids for their Cycling merit badge; (5) a three-day backpacking trip to South Sandia Peak; (6) a particularly memorable ten-day trek at Philmont Scout Ranch in 2004 (see photo); (7) Darren's Eagle Scout service project (which was to build a footbridge at a county open-space area called Carlito Spring in Tijeras Canyon east of Albuquerque); and (8) helping my nephew Aaron P_____ finish off his Eagle Scout requirements in 2006-07.

The attached photo of our 2004 Philmont crew was taken at the summit of Baldy Mountain (Darren is on the far left, and I'm the one in the back in the green jacket, leaning on a rock). With regard to this crew, I'm especially proud of the fact that all of the boys (Joseph Kearns, Steven Brewer, Curtis Twitchell, Darren, Jordan Roper, David Griffin, Jason Brewer, and Aaron) either were, or later became, Eagle Scouts. Anyone associated with a well-constituted scout troop will not regard that record as remarkable, but, in the context of an LDS troop in a place like Albuquerque, it signifies a special group of kids. (Church policy dictates that each ward [geographical unit] have its own scout troop, regardless of the number of scout-age boys and/or the available leadership -- which may work well in a place like Utah but often creates barely functioning troops elsewhere. The obvious solution for outlying areas -- to have one fully functioning troop per stake [larger geographical unit usually consisting of 5-8 wards] -- doesn't appear to be forthcoming.)

The church may not always maintain its association with the Boy Scouts, especially if the courts finally reverse themselves and decide that the scouts cannot exclude openly homosexual adults and youth. Church leaders have already put in place a redundant achievement program called "Duty to God," the obvious (if unspoken) purpose of which is to replace scouting in the case of just such an eventuality. However, scouting did wonders for me insofar as I was able to share my son's experiences and those of the other boys named above, and for that I say God bless it.

Friday, February 1, 2008

My Rock 'N' Roll Favorites - the 'B's

Continuing with my rock 'n' roll favorites, I'll address the 'B's in this post.
B-52's, The: "Loveland" - The B-52's' Mesopotamia album is often overlooked -- as well it should be, as it was an experimental effort produced by David Byrne that really didn't connect. (At best it was a foul tip.) However, it did contain "Loveland," which has an amazing, liquid-sounding texture that I still find cascading through my head from time to time. The best part is that someone did a remix in recent years that dialed down some of Byrne's synthesizer-based excrescence and brought up Ricky Wilson's guitar parts, making it even better.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive: "Takin' Care of Business" - BTO is one of those bands that I really liked as a teenager but have great difficulty listening to now. It's hard to say why, except that most of the tunes seem pretty clunky by modern standards; however, "Takin' Care of Business" has managed to stay somewhat fresh, in part due to the piano part that added much to the arrangement.

Bad Company: "Deal With the Preacher" - Bad Company is another favorite group from my youthful past that I likewise couldn't listen to for a long time as an adult. However, "Deal With the Preacher," off their second album Straight Shooter, is a great rock song and represents what was good about what we used to call "hard rock" back in the mid-70s.
Bangles, The: "Hero Takes a Fall" - In my book, the Bangles only made one decent album, and it was their first big-label album All Over the Place, featuring "Hero Takes a Fall." The album had catchy tunes, great vocals, and a raw sound that actually approximated four young women playing guitars, bass, and drums. Their follow-up album, Different Light, propelled them to stardom, but with crappy tunes (e.g., "Manic Monday," "Walk Like an Egyptian") and overdone arrangements that made me wonder if the members of the group did anything but sing on the album. Notwithstanding, "Hero Takes a Fall" stands as the best pop/rock song ever done by a girl band, and Susanna Hoffs simply had the sexiest singing voice of all time.
Beach Boys, The: "All Summer Long" - I'm not a great Beach Boys fan, but "All Summer Long" evokes so many images of the 1960s ("tee shirts, cut-offs, and a pair of thongs") that I can't help liking it. A close second would be "Good Vibrations," but only because it was so non-surf.
Beatles, The: "Paperback Writer" - It's tremendously difficult to select a favorite song from the vast oeuvre of a band as talented and influential as the Beatles. I've only recently delved into great albums like Revolver, Abbey Road, and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, all of which sound amazing even today; however, if I have to pick one favorite song, it's "Paperback Writer," a tune that stands out for its groundbreaking guitar riff, prominent bass in the mix, sharp-sounding harmonies, and social commentary.
Beck: "New Pollution" - Beck has produced an amazingly eclectic body of work, not all of which appeals to me, but I still like the retro-60s sound of "New Pollution," which he could have performed at Monterey Pop (had he been alive in 1967) and fit right in. ("Loser" would be a close second for me -- I guess I just like his "old" stuff.)
Bee Gees, The: "How Deep Is Your Love" - I admit I hated the Bee Gees back in the mid-to-late 70s, when they'd reinvented themselves as a disco band. (I loathed disco music in general, although I admit to having bought a pair of brown Angel's Flight pants in late 1978, which I only wore two or three times before I left on my church mission in January 1979. To underscore the sea change that occurred in popular music while I was on my mission, I like to say that I "went out" to the Bee Gees and "came back" to the B-52's.) Therefore, my favorite song of theirs was bound to be a slow song, and "How Deep Is Your Love" is easily the best of their ballads.
Blondie: "One Way or Another" - The whole Blondie phenomenon happened while I was a missionary, although, Chileans being the radio-listening people they are (or at least were), I heard plenty of Blondie songs going from here to there. I have a vivid memory of hearing "One Way or Another" one time while on public transport in Santiago -- I had to ask my missionary companion, who'd left the U.S. over a year later than I did, who it was. It's the one Blondie tune that really stuck in my head.
Bon Jovi: They deserve a mention, but I honestly can't think of a single Bon Jovi tune that wouldn't prompt me to change the station if it came on my car radio. Sorry!
Boston: "Foreplay/Long Time" - I'm not a big Boston fan now, but there was a time when "Long Time" was my favorite song, in part because the lyrics seemed to describe my life during and after high school: "It's been such a long time; I think I should be going / Time doesn't wait for me -- it keeps on rolling."
Bowie, David: "Golden Years" - I probably would have picked "Let's Dance" but for my fondness of the movie A Knight's Tale (starring the recently deceased Heath Ledger), in which "Golden Years" is featured prominently. I never really got the Bowie thing in the 70s -- I hated "Fame," which was played to death in 1975 -- but "Golden Years" has gotten better with time.
Bread: "Dismal Day" - Years ago, I would have listed "If," "Diary," "Everything I Own," or "Make It With You," but I have a Bread greatest hits CD, and "Dismal Day" is the song I listen to most.
Buffalo Springfield: "Rock 'n' Roll Woman" - Yes, Virginia, the Buffalo Springfield did record other songs besides "For What It's Worth" -- and "Rock 'n' Roll Woman" was easily the best of the lot.
Byrds, The: "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" - This song is as good as pop music got in the mid-1960s -- catchy beat, great vocals by Gene Clark, and an exemplary 12-string guitar solo by Roger McGuinn.
(This clip is one of my favorite videos on Youtube -- the dancing is amazing!)