Quincy

This is good news as I was concerned about the Miles box traveling alone through the post. It looks like Brubeck & Hawkins will hold his hand on the long journey. Oh...and Blakey too, though I guess he'll have to hold onto something else. I've started looking forward to these releases more than the RVGs (not that I still don't look forward to those.)

I was thinking maybe the Deluxe Who's Next, but maybe I should double check. Most people I know don't own it as they've bought the disc twice already. I stuck with my vinyl until this came out. I'm still using 3 different vinyl copies of Quadrophenia (not that I've played it much in the past 20+ years as I played it every day when I was 16 ) and wondering if they'll do the upcoming Deluxe Quadrophenia right. Not that anyone can agree as to what's right with that album anyway!

Another for Five Guys Walk Into A Bar... Aside from the extra goodies and the booklet included, I like the fact that it isn't chronological. King Crimson's The Great Deceiver is probably 2nd. Although I'm not a big fan of the lyrics from this period ('73-'74) the improvs are tremendous. Quite a bit of reading material included too compliments of Fripp. VU's Peel Slowly And See did a nice job with filling out the discs with some good extras in the right place too, but gets knocked down a tiny notch for changing the mix on the 3rd album. I think I've played the early disc just once. I need to again sometime to be reminded why. One box that has a shameful flaw is The Who's Maximum R&B. Many (maybe all) of the songs fade out and flow into the next. It sure took a long time for this band to put out CDs that weren't flawed one way or another. I keep meaning to pick up Nuggets, but I'm saving it for when I really need it for a pick me upper.

Local shop has been having a 25% off sale over the holiday weekend which makes their prices better than just about anyone's but a big order from alldirect. Art Pepper+Eleven - Modern Jazz Classics (K2) Red Garland's Piano (K2) Thelonious Monk - Misterioso (K2) Thelonious Monk - Monk's Dream K2s for less than $13 are so hard to resist. My first Garland without Coltrane. Nice!

One of Dan Rather's more uneasy moments came when the PM asked him "would you like to drink some urine?" "Uh, (clears throat), no thank you sir."

WOW! Thank you Michael, thank you one & (Free For) all! Me thinks he's a bit overwhelmed, but that's all right. It'll keep him out of trouble.

Excellent! Thank you all, I knew you'd come through with some great suggestions. And not just for my friend. I'll pass this link on to him so he can see them for himself. Thanks again, and if you got 'em, keep 'em comin'!

A friend (really!) asked if I knew of any jazz recordings featuring 2 pianists. He'd prefer that the piano(s) being played were acoustic. I suppose he'd accept 2 pianists on one piano, but I think he's after 2 pianists on 2 different acoustic pianos. Off the top of my head the only thing I could come up with is the track off of First Time! with Duke & Count Basie. Any suggestions from the board?

I noticed when I checked my order status that they had automatically lowered the price of my order. I double checked Quicken and indeed they had.

Now that you have your order placed have you tried going in and making changes through Order Status? I only have the 7 Steps preordered so I don't have any options under "click here for cancellation and other options." But I'd hope there'd be some way to fix the problem you have under there. Without the ship together feature our local economy will get a bigger boost me thinks.

Thanks for noting that. I was wondering. One for the audiophile bunch. What type of desk would provide the warmest bounce?

I'll second Exact Audio Copy for ripping. It's the best there is, it's the preferred choice of hardcore traders, and it's free! And send the kid who wrote the program a postcard (it's postcardware), he really appreciates it. Such a small thing to ask for such a great program.

It's a good thing Ben decided not to go though, as he had an emergency appendectomy the other day. Maybe he's psychic.

It was terrific when it was in its prime. I saved a number of them. I remember a bit this (whatever year it was written) being the new Middle Ages that was spot on. Another Economist subscriber, along with National Geographic, Gourmet & Sports Illustrated. I live just a couple of blocks away from the library, so I read a bunch there such as Saveur, Harper's, and Mojo on the cheap.

Did Kylie get her stomach pumped? I had completely forgotten about that story about Rod! Oh man, where do the brain cells go? It was retold for years in my schools, and often as not the teller of the tale did so in a solemn serious tone like he was Dan Rather. The Urban Legends page mentions Alanis Morrissette, Li'l Kim, Fiona Apple (what an honor, I didn't think she had enough fans to make up stories), and of course, Britney. Others too, many male, including The Bay City Rollers, but no Kylie.

Q Magazine put out a special Zeppelin issue last year which is lots of fun. It's packed with photos, information about each album...you name it. It has small reviews of a dozen books on Zeppelin. It sounds like Chris Welch's Led Zeppelin: Dazed And Confused - The Stories Behind Every Song might be what you're looking for. From Q's review: "...but the book's greatest strength lies in refocusing familiar aspects of Zeppelin's story to the actual songs and recording sessions." I haven't read it myself, but most of the other books listed tend to involve the stories of excess and the like.

I was Googling something or other and when I glanced at the name of the site I thought it must be sex related. So of course I had to check it out. Now now, I was searching for something jazz related, I swear! I looked around and saw cats, moose and other animals and thought "Wow!" Wow as in "look at all of the knowledge here, and how little I know about so much of it" to "wow, these folks must spend a lot of time here..." A week or so later I had another jazz question and started to Google but remembered that Orgasmsomething site. Lo & behold, more answers to questions I hadn't even known to ask. I lurked as a guest and decided to join, if for no other reason than to let the cookies keep track of what I'd already read. And to think that once upon a time I thought web boards were lame compared to the Usenet. What the hell was I thinking?

For a different list check out Pitchfork. I get the feeling the reviewers were toddlers for much of the decade, and sometimes they try too hard to be oh-so-hip. However, it is refreshing to see U2 & the Police get ignored, as well as see the Minutemen get some credit. Pitchfork's List 01. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation 02. Talking Heads - Remain In Light 03. Beatie Boys - Paul's Boutique 04. Pixies - Doolittle 05. R.E.M. - Murmur 06. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead 07. Pixies - Surfer Rosa 08. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs 09. Public Enemy - It Takes A Nations of Millions to Hold Us Back 10. Joy Division - Closer 11. Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones 12. Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain 13. The Fall - The Nation's Saving Grace 14. Sonic Youth - Sister 15. XTC - Skylarking 16. Galaxie 500 - On Fire 17. Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime 18. De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising 19. Public Image Ltd. - Second Edition 20. This Heat - Deceit At least the kids know their years: London Calling makes it to #2 on the best of the '70s list. I'd drop a few from their list (This Heat?) and reinstate (The Replacement's) Let it Be and Elvis's Get Happy. While the critics love Thompson's Shoot Out The Lights I confess I rarely play it. Unless you're looking for a divorce or separation, it's best to keep it on the shelf!

No need to speak in the past tense (unless you don't like their more recent work.) On August 31st they're putting out a DVD of the '82 Three Of A Perfect Pair and The Noise VHS tapes (along with some extras.) They also recently released a DVD of 2 different shows with their more recent line up. They also have a Philadelphia '82 coming out on CD through the Collector's Club (which nowadays doesn't require a prepaid membership.) Lots of stuff happening at Dicipline Global Mobile. In 1982 I was taking a summer school physics class at the U of I in Champaign. My lab parter was Adrian Belew's brother-in-law (Adrian lived in Champaign for a little while.) Unfortunately this uh, "inside link" didn't result in me getting to hang around with Belew or Fripp or anything else. One of the few autographs I have is my copy of Lone Rhino that I got signed at a record store sometime that year. Adrian wrote a bubble over the rhino which says "hello eric, from adrian" (that's my name, which somebody had taken here . Quincy is my old hometown) while a bubble over Adrian says "bark bark."

I never understood how an album that was released in 1979 can be the best album of the '80s. Love The Clash!

Oh oh--what would that be? I gave up on them not long after AUTOMATIC and find most of their Warner catalogue unlistenable these days, although some friends have vouched for UP. Some thought "Bad Day" a return to form, which is true in a way--it's a revamped "P.S.A.", a song they were playing on the 1986 PAGEANT tour and which morphed into "It's the End of the World as We Know It." R.E.M. on IRS was transcendental. R.E.M. on Warners--better-than-average pop for its time. You can go to their official site and hear a snippet of "Leaving New York." I hate to judge a whole song on 40 seconds, but it has all the oomph of an England Dan & John Ford Coley song. Actually less. I continued buying their discs out of habit until Up, which I waited to find used. I should unload it as there is so much about it that irritates the hell out of me. I finally broke the habit by not buying their last (Reveal.) Having also heard their tepid anti-war song "The Final Straw" which is supposed to be on the new one as well I can't see picking it up either. Aw well, as you say, the I.R.S. years were transcendental (meanwhile the Warner stuff is just taking up space.) A couple of months ago I traded for a few more '84 shows. Ahhhhh, now there was a band!

1. Unlike Stop Making Sense this really is live. No overdubs. 2. It's a great combination of the early years and the expanded band with guitar wiz Adrian Belew. The early versions of "Artists Only" & "Stay Hungry" are very fresh (actually everything is, since it's the early years - duh!), and even the way Byrne delivers his "thank yous" is a kick. The big band stuff was thrilling in person and the old vinyl captured it well. Presumably the CD will too. 3. They're adding more to a good thing. I don't think it will dilute the end result but add to the fun. 4. Nostalgia for the early 80s? This isn't The Cars or Duran Duran man, this is the f*cking Talking Heads! Though having heard a 40 second snippet of R.E.M.'s latest puddle of crud, I'm feeling very nostalgic for the early '80s when they jangled and you had difficulty hearing Stipe buried in the mix.

Not to butt in but... Having just picked up a used copy of the RCA box I'd suggest go that route. Like yourself I only owned one the albums on CD so it seemed like now was time. Used copies can be had for < $55 and the box contains 6 discs, with quite a bit of extra material that would be hard to find elsewhere. I'd also like to add that they make it easy to see what album tracks are on which discs without any garish colors in the background. I'm very happy with it! Another thanks to Jim for the review of the '70s & beyond material, as I've just about gotten all the pre-70s!

The Fantasy Catalog says $140 (available 10/12.) Don't see anything on CD Universe yet about pre-orders.

<Raises hand.> I do I do! On United Artists. A nice selection and a good layout for vinyl.