Armistice Day, November 11th. Veteran's Day

"Americans despise cowards.  Americans play to win all of the time.  I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful to an American." - Gen. George S. Patton.   Armistice Day (also known as Remembrance Day) is today, November 11 and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918.   As I put the flag out early this morning, I glanced across the street to a pretty blue colonial house.  I could see the small vertical flag hanging in an upstairs window.  It is a a service flag - it has a white field with a red border.  There are 2 blue stars on it - one for each family member currently serving in the military.

35 Years ago today: Gordon Lightfoot

35 Years ago today...my good pal John who lives, works, and plays right there on the shores of Lake Superior reminds us all today:  "The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down, of the the big lake they call Gitchi Gumi.”  Famed ore freighter, the  Edmund Fitzgerald: November 10, 1975.  "The church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 times; for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald."  A moment of silence.  His famous song is on this 1976 record - called Summertime Dream.  As for this record - it was produced by Lenny Waronker and Gordon.  GL is credited with playing 12- and six string guitars, and vocals.  On the back cover it reads, "Jim Gordon played drums on The House You Live In.  Look up Jim Gordon - a tragic and sad figure in the annals of rock.  He was (is?) Clapton's favorite drummer.

Guest Post: Selling England by the Pound

Guest post by Scott Knudsen.  This Genesis work of art, their 5th studio album, occupies a very special place in my music-loving heart.  It produced a rarity in music, especially United States music culture.  This album premiered in 1973, the same year Secretariat was making horse-race history in the United States.  While debuting in '73, it actually went gold in the US in 1990.  That gap is significant, and it defines Selling England by the Pound perfectly.  You have to digest this album.  It followed Foxtrot, and Foxtrot allowed Peter Gabriel to take his mind-altering vision, Supper's Ready, to vinyl production.  A hard act to follow.  One of my favorite traits of this album is the stage it set for concert genius and success.  Go back and look at the song listings, and arguably The Cinema Show may be one of the best "live" productions ever.  The fact that Gabriel had a hand in development, it was Phil Collins who took the "live" scene to new heights.  A little known fact, but a tremendous note is the album cover.  The painting was done by Betty Swanwick and titled "The Dream."  The original painting is not what the band used as the album cover.  Why?  What is contained on the album cover that didn't appear on the original Swanwick work?  The Lawnmower.  The band convinced Swanwick to add this in for their use only.  The line, "Me?  I'm just a lawnmower......you can tell......." is one of the finest ever produced and one that will remain etched in any listener's ears for life.  "Firth of Fifth" without a doubt is the single-most underestimated and underrated song in possibly the band's history.  That is a big and brave statement, but I find it to be dead on.  It's worth a listen just for the Tony Banks piano intro.  This album is truly Genesis Genius.

Thanks Scott – great job.  Way to keep them mowing blades sharp.  Click on post title so see and hear Darrell Stuermer playing the "Steve Hackett" solo from Firth of Fifth.  Blogger's Note: this is the 250th post on this blog.

Paul Davis: Ride 'em Cowboy

I had not heard of this guy, Paul Davis.  But nosing around, it seems this guy had three very popular AM radio hits of the '70's and early '80's:  I Go Crazy, Cool Night, and 65 Love Affair.  None of those songs on are this record.  But what a cool record cover this is.  The above photo is how the record looks from the front - opened.  The shirt opens (photo below) right at the snaps and inside we get this look of a saloon with swingnig doors.

The photo below is how the cover looks with the shirt closed.  Paul Davis was actually a rougher looking dude than one would have thought - based on the soft and mellow songs he became known for.  He passed away in 2008 at the age of 60.  The other cool thing about this totally unique record cover is that the denim seams in the shirt are embossed (in relief) and so the jacket actually has a denim feel to it.  Seems like he was quite the songwriter too.  Every song on the record was written by Paul Davis, except Southern Man (Neil Young) and Thank You Shoes, by Stephen Dorff/Milton Brown.  This is on BANG records, a Division of Web IV Music, Inc. on 2107 Faulkner Road, NE, Atlanta GA 30324.