GA Russell

The Essential Van Morrison (2 CDs, 37 tracks) - $9.53 prime http://www.amazon.com/The-Essential-Van-Morrison/dp/B012UNH24Q

Now let's start to catch up. Tuesday was the first day of free agency. I think the simplest thing to do would be to show you a chart of the free agents who have moved on, and those who have stayed put. http://www.tsn.ca/2016-potential-cfl-free-agents-1.406129 ***** Here are some of the biggest names. John Chiles to Sask. http://www.cfl.ca/2016/02/09/speed-to-burn-riders-add-former-argo-chiles/ ***** Bakari Grant and Taylor Reed to Calgary. http://www.cfl.ca/2016/02/10/on-the-board-stamps-sign-pass-catcher-bakari-grant/ ***** Jeremiah Johnson to BC. http://www.cfl.ca/2016/02/10/lions-sign-former-redblack-jeremiah-johnson/ ***** Macho Harris to Winnipeg. http://www.cfl.ca/2016/02/02/bombers-sign-veteran-db-macho-harris/ ***** Andrew Harris, Justin Medlock and Keith Shologan to Winnipeg http://www.tsn.ca/bombers-sign-rb-harris-k-medlock-1.435565 ***** Trevor Harris to Ottawa. http://www.tsn.ca/redblacks-sign-qb-harris-to-two-year-deal-1.435535 ***** Nick Moore to BC. http://www.tsn.ca/moore-returns-to-lions-on-one-year-deal-1.436021 ***** Justin Capicciotti to Sask. http://www.tsn.ca/capicciotti-among-riders-day-2-signings-1.436037 ***** Chad Owens to Hamilton. http://www.tsn.ca/owens-to-sign-with-tiger-cats-1.436596 ***** Shamawd Chambers to Sask. http://www.tsn.ca/roughriders-keep-best-ainsworth-sign-chambers-chiles-1.435495 ***** Kenny Stafford to Montreal. http://www.tsn.ca/stafford-returns-to-alouettes-giguere-venable-re-sign-1.435672 ***** Josh Bourke to Toronto. http://www.tsn.ca/argonauts-agree-to-terms-with-ot-bourke-1.435586

I'll plan to catch up later this evening. But I want to let you know before it's too late that Larry Pfohl's autobiography Wrestling with the Devil is on sale for $4.60 + $3.99. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1414378726/ref=tmm_hrd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=&sr=

Happy Birthday 2016 Michael!

As promised, I opened up Disc One yesterday. To be honest, I didn't like the first couple of songs because of the dissonant harmonies and solos. But the band started swinging before long, and it turned out to be a great set! I think more memorable to me than the music is the feeling of hearing a historic event. Disc Two is the 3/21/66 set, so I will probably wait till March 21 to open it up.

Happy Birthday 2016 mr jazz!

I once saw a quartet which included Mary Ann, Sid and I think Mary Ann's boyfriend (John?) on The Gong Show. It was obvious they were the most talented act the show had ever seen. They were gonged, as I recall by Jaye P. Morgan. No one ever mentioned The Hot Licks.

Damn. He was a favorite of mine. I saw the group at The Cellar Door in early '72, I think. The only copy of Rolling Stone I ever purchased was the one with him on the cover. RIP.

Brand new release: Cilla Black - OAS - $11.75 + $3.99 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019HVNM70

Down today to $24.99. http://www.amazon.com/All-My-Yesterdays-Vanguard-Recordings/dp/B018W1ZS2S Tomorrow is the 50th anniversary, so I have decided to wait till then to open it up.

Happy Birthday 2016 Big Wheel!

The Essential Kinks (2 CDs, 48 songs) - $10.99 prime http://www.amazon.com/The-Essential-Kinks/dp/B00MA7GABO

Happy Birthday tkeith!

I particularly enjoyed this from the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/arts/television/recalling-bob-and-ray-who-paved-the-way-for-todays-deadpan-humor.html?action=click&contentCollection=Television&module=RelatedCoverage&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article

I know that for decades the NFL coin toss has occurred maybe an hour before kickoff to give the coaches the opportunity to organize their team's early-game strategy. But there has been no bogus ceremony before the games - the league has always been candid about it. It never occurred to me that the Super Bowl coin toss has been a re-enactment. The announcers behave like it's legit, don't they?

As I recall, this was his first hit.

RIP. Bob and Ray were favorites of mine. I am dismayed that Bob is being referred to as "Chris Elliott's father!" Here's more: https://www.bing.com/search?q=Bob+Elliott&filters=tnTID%3a%22DDCABAC6-0D4D-496d-890F-9FEBC430B64A%22+tnVersion%3a%221276547%22+segment%3a%22popularnow.carousel%22+tnCol%3a%223%22+tnOrder%3a%221af429e7-2dff-40d7-b60a-8617cd6a10ab%22&FORM=BSPN01&crslsl=0

Maurice White, who joined Ramsey Lewis when he split with Eldee Young and Red Holt, and who later founded Earth, Wind and Fire, has died at 74. http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2016/02/04/earth-wind-fire-founder-maurice-white-dead-at-74/

I received my copy yesterday. I noticed right away that the size of the package is identical to that of last year's Erroll Garner Concert by the Sea release. I'm guessing that this is the new industry standard for multi-disk sets. Has anyone read anything about that?

Roger Moore's The Saint (complete) - $89.99 prime http://www.amazon.com/The-Saint-Complete-Series/dp/B00S4YGVZM

Not a box, but this movie about background singers got great reviews. Twenty Feet from Stardom - $5.00 prime http://www.amazon.com/20-Feet-Stardom-Darlene-Love/dp/B00E1LR2B4

I have a number of Grey Cup hats. Today I wore my "Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1999 Grey Cup Champions" hat. I went to the gas station, and as I was filling up the tank, an SUV pulled up near me. The driver stepped out, and he was wearing a Ticats cap! So I introduced myself, and he was, no kidding, Speedy Banks' dad Daryl! So I gave him the organissimo.org URL, and invited him to join us. I hope he does.

ESPN Films - 30 for 30 (eps. 1-30) - $14.95 prime, or $7.97 + $3.99 http://www.amazon.com/ESPN-Films-30-Favorites-Collection/dp/B008QE9YDQ

Thanks bluenoter!

Little Feat - OAS - $9.99 prime http://www.amazon.com/Original-Album-Little-Sailin-Chicken/dp/B003097B64/ref=sr_1_1_twi_aud_1