GA Russell

John Byrne was the lead singer of Count Five and the composer of Psychotic Reaction. Here's an interesting obit from the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-...0,3451708.story John Byrne 'Psychotic Reaction' writer John Byrne, 61, a rock 'n' roll musician who wrote and sang "Psychotic Reaction," the only hit of the San Jose garage band Count Five, died Dec. 15 of kidney and liver failure at the Regional Medical Center of San Jose, his daughter Tina said. with its distinctive fuzz guitar and harmonica riff echoing the sound of the Yardbirds, reached No. 5 on the Billboard charts in 1966. It has been immortalized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of 500 songs that shaped rock music. Byrne, who was born Nov. 16, 1947, in Dublin, immigrated to the United States at age 14, joining an older brother living in San Jose. Count Five (sometimes referred to as Count V) was formed in 1964 in San Jose. Byrne, who played rhythm guitar and sang, joined lead guitarist John Michalski, bassist Roy Chaney, drummer Craig Atkinson and Ken Ellner, who also sang and played the harmonica. The band released its debut album, also called "Psychotic Reaction," in 1966. A few singles followed, but the group never repeated the singular success of "Psychotic Reaction." Byrne returned to his studies at San Jose State University and became an accountant, later working as a manager of a Montgomery Ward store in Northern California. But he never quit playing music, his daughter said. "Maybe I made some mistakes," Byrne told the San Jose Mercury News in 2002 when the band had a revival. "I was determined to get through college. Maybe I was wrong, but I'm glad I'm an educated man. At least when people talk to me, they know I'm not an idiot."

For a while there, Delaney & Bonnie were really big. I can't say that I was impressed until I learned that he was a member of The Shindogs! In 1971 I saw Roberta Flack perform Superstar. This was a year or two before she hit it big nationally, and about the same time period before The Carpenters had a hit with it. Here's his LA Times obit: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-...0,3451708.story Delaney Bramlett; songwriter who wrote 'Let It Rain' December 28, 2008 Delaney Bramlett, 69, a singer, songwriter and producer who penned classic rock songs such as "Let It Rain" and worked with musicians George Harrison and Eric Clapton, died Saturday at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center in Los Angeles as a result of complications from gallbladder surgery, his wife Susan Lanier-Bramlett said. Born in Mississippi in 1939, Bramlett came to Los Angeles in the 1960s and played guitar in the house band for the TV pop show "Shindig". With his then-wife Bonnie Lynn he formed the short-lived Southern blues-rock band Delaney & Bonnie & Friends. The band toured as the opening act for Blind Faith, the supergroup that featured British guitarist Clapton. After Bramlett and his first wife divorced in the early '70s, they parted professionally as well, and he faded from the spotlight. During his career, Bramlett performed, co-wrote or recorded with stars such as Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Dave Mason, Billy Preston, J.J. Cale, the Everly Brothers and Mac Davis. He also produced artists including Etta James and Elvin Bishop. He is perhaps best known for standards such as "Superstar," co-written with Leon Russell, which has been recorded by many artists, most recently by Sonic Youth in a version featured on the Grammy-nominated soundtrack of the movie "Juno." Bramlett also co-wrote "Let It Rain" with Clapton, who also recorded it, and "Never Ending Song of Love," which was recorded by more than 100 artists including Ray Charles, George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Bramlett recently released an album, "A New Kind of Blues," on independent label Magnolia Gold Records.

Here's an article from today's Chicago Tribune about the last guy in America to wholesale VHS tapes. He thinks that this has been the format's last Christmas. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationw...,0,492307.story

Happy Birthday Alexander!

Here's a good, but very brief, review of the league's year. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...860556-sun.html

HG, it occurs to me that you originally asked if the Rollins set has the original artwork. The fact is that I don't remember the original artwork, so I can't say for sure.

How are you guys logging in? I am still getting a blank screen. I emailed YourMusic's contact dept. to ask for help.

Didn't know about this one...are they sleeved with the original artwork? I always like the RCA Sonny Rollins album covers. Mine is still on its way, but I believe the answer is yes, like mini-LPs. My Rollins and Byrds boxes arrived yesterday, the day after Christmas, and I can confirm that they are mini-LPs. Three of the five Rollins discs include bonus tracks.

Happy Birthday jmjk! Like Jack Benny, you're pushing forty!

Here's her AP obit from the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-...0,4702522.story

Didn't know about this one...are they sleeved with the original artwork? I always like the RCA Sonny Rollins album covers. Mine is still on its way, but I believe the answer is yes, like mini-LPs.

Quite a bit. First and foremost, an album of Christmas carols by Donald Ryan, whom you may have heard of. There is a plant in York, PA, which still has a steam whistle. Every Christmas at midnight, this guy plays Christmas carols on it for fifteen minutes, and the whole town can hear it. It's quite extraordinary, and comical too! One of a kind in the world! The new album Beautiful Memory by vocalist Bill Henderson. He's another old (81) black guy with one foot in the grave who can still sing, like Ed Reed. I'm looking forward to that one. Three boxes: Sonny Rollins - The Freelance Years Sonny Rollins - Original Album Classics (five RCA albums) The Byrds - Original Album Classics (their first five Columbia albums) Special thanks to my new best friend Alec, who got me the Freelance box; and my other two new best friends, sidewinder, who let us know about the Original Album Classics series, and Chuck, who let us know where to find them cheap!

I've been getting a blank screen, not only from the website address, but also from the email I received yesterday (that said, Click here to order 80% off).

David Naylor lists his top ten players likely to try the NFL next year, including Cam Wake, Sandro DeAngelis and Nick Setta: http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home ***** Remember back in '96 when everyone was laughing at the CFL because the teams were losing money? Since then, the Buffalo and Ottawa NHL teams have gone bankrupt, and the Phoenix NHL team is in big trouble: http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...ortsHockey/home

Here's a good AP article about complicated and obscure NFL rules. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...geRequested=all

Thanks Chris and all! Merry Christmas to everyone!

Cola Yadhtrib Yapph!

I have thirteen Cal Tjader albums, and this is my least favorite.

Darian Durant was scheduled to become a free agent in February. He has re-signed with the Riders because they promised him a fair shot at becoming the starter. With Michael Bishop let go, the Riders don't have a bona fide starter on their roster. Maybe this will be Durant's year. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1785749/

Helen Merrill - You've Got a Date with the Blues Mark Murphy - Rah Mose Allison - I've Been Doin' Some Thinking John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman Getz/Gilberto

Happy Birthday Z!

Here's his LATimes obit: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-...0,6643317.story

BMG sent me an email today saying that they are discontinuing the Music Points program. No more points after Jan. 31. No more spending your points after April 30. Of course, with Aggie's codes, who cares about the points? That Music Points program lasted about ten years. I figured it wouldn't last long when they started it.

Moose, I don't think that I remember that. Did Deion ever play sixty minutes? Did he play O and D in the same game?