Big Al

I can't help but agree, even though my original post in this thread was a simple "Will do." In my defense, I just wanted to acknowledge Valerie's request and keep it as short and simple as possible. Quite honestly and FWIW, I think the most direct, heartfelt, and honest response was from Alexander:

I'll have to ask my girlfriends about this one; I'm pretty sure my wife might disagree. (I'm kidding, of course; it's laughable enough to think that I could get ONE girlfriend, let alone plural. Maybe if I played her my Styx records....... )

Post deleted. Thoughtless on my part. Sorry.

Y'know, Chris, you could've done that regardless, and we wouldn't be having this conversation. [second paragraph deleted. Thoughtless sarcasm. I apologize.]

Don't feel bad; it's always the few people who feel the need to jump in a thread such as this and voice their opinion on prayer/religion. I would guess most people either agree with you, or they don't let the word "prayer" get under their skin as much as Chris or Hans do. Personally, I'm glad you started this thread. It's always fun to watch over-zealous atheists in action.

Yep, nothing like Chris's "opinion" to make Valerie & George feel that much better. Nothing like editorial opinions to help bolster a thread filled with good cheer, good wishes, and yes, prayer. Just because you don't believe in prayer doesn't make it unneccesary, any more than me believing in prayer makes it necessary. Here's a clue, Chris: THIS AIN'T ABOUT YOU. You could've very easily made your point just with the second half of your statement.

Will do!

I think you oughta ask chewy where he got that 8-track. Copied it off a friend's OJCs....

HELLYEAH!!! I need to take this one down the highway someday!

But I'm listening to side four of the Dexter Gordon 2-LP Blue Note reissue simply titled DEXTER GORDON. It's "Tanya," BTW. Wonderful, wonderful tune. Reminds me that I need to scoop up all those Dexter RVGs!

I almost agree with you; I'd keep "The Times They Are A-Changin'." But otherwise, you are RIGHT on the money on this one! (I'd even throw in "Stranger in a Strange Land," but whattyagonnado?)

It DOES live up to it's title, if you're using "bad" in the right way. In the words of that famous tunesmith Huey Lewis, "sometimes bad is bad." This one caused my needle to jump off the record and scream "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING TO ME? THIS IS FREAKIN' TORTURE!"

IIRC, it was out as a Verve By Request CD some years back.

That one is the winner for me too. I'll buy it and replace all of the individual Brown/Roach CD's. Some of the other stuff I don't have on CD at all. Same here! I don't have much Brownie to begin with, so this will be a treat!

Both. It started out as a business trip with just me going alone. I asked if I could bring my wife along, and the boss said I could. So there's the fun!

China Business District. The heart of downtown, underground shopping, all that stuff.

Dom Um Ramao HOTMOSPHERE. Kinda cheesy, but pretty cool nonetheless. Earlier: Donato A BAD DONATO. Boy, did THAT one live up to its title. Worse than the Byrds reunion album I also bought for a quarter.

I know.... they said they would wok my dog for me.....

All's I know is I was groovin' heavily to the last nine minutes of track 6. WHOA!!!

Look bitch (SMACK), if it ain't in a 12( SMACK) inch by (SMACK) 12 inch gate( SMACK)fold(SMACK) cover(SMACK), ain't no (SMACK) motherfucking (SMACK) way it's gonna (SMACK) replicate (SMACK) the "Original" (SMACK) look (SMACK) and (SMACK) feel (SMACK) of those albums (SMACK)(SMACK)(SMACK)(SMACK)(SMACK)(SMACK)(SMACK)(SMACK) Damn (SMACK) straight!

I like your description of the concept better than mine!

What's a cover? In my mind, it's someone doing another version of someone else's song; and by "someone else's song," I mean whoever made THE definitive version. F'rinstance, there are tons of Chuck Berry "covers," because nobody does Chuck Berry like Chuck Berry. His version of "Maybellene" is THE definitive version. But you take a song like Dave Brubeck's "In Your Own Sweet Way," and opinions can diverge widely about who made the definitive version. Was it Dave himself? Or was it Miles? Or was it Bill Evans on How My Heart Sings? In each of those instances, it's a brand new statement. In the former example, it's an artist paying tribute to or trying to ride the coattails of the artist who set the standard. Does that make sense? I think I may have painted myself into a coroner.

Ha! And I'm just the opposite! I love those first three tracks!

My wife and I are travelling to China at the beginning of November, and we'll be staying in the CBD. Can some of you world-travellers tell me what to expect? Where to go? Any music stores there?

Having watched the Dallas Mavericks collapse in two straight seasons, I can honestly say I know how it feels to be a Mets fan this morning.