AfricaBrass

Nice picks Clementine! I dig Wynn Stewart and the rest. I'm glad you're a fan, Jazzmoose. I really love those old Buck Owens albums. I'm also a huge Merle Haggard fan. I'd say any of his Capital albums from the sixties really have that Bakersfield thing down. As a guitar player, I'm really drawn to the guitar players of this era. These guys aren't necessarily Bakersfield, but were from SoCal. You have to check out Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant. There are some great compilations on the Razor and Tie label. Jimmy Bryant is my favorite guitarist EVER. Another guitarist I really like is Joe Maphis. His cd Fire On the Strings is good. If you like country/rockabilly, check out Wanda Jackson. Joe Maphis and Buck Owens played guitar on her early Capital Sides. There's a great compilation series from Europe. It's called a Capital Rockabilly Party. There's 3 volumes and it has a great cross section of fifties rockabilly/country. If you like newer stuff, I'd check out Dale Watson, Redd Volkaert. The Hightone label does a lot of new Bakersfield style country. There's so much... I love this stuff! :rsmile:

Matthew, I respect your courage in admitting that jazz gets played out for you. I'm in the same boat. I've probably listened to about six jazz albums during the past three months. Right now, I'm on a Bakersfield country and Chicago blues kick. :rsmile:

I have 2 tattoos. I got the first one 15 years ago and the second one 12 years ago. They're not as crisp as they were when I first got them, but they still look good. I'm not worried about them bleeding together because I believe the modern inks don't bleed like the old ones did. The first tattoo was on my left upper arm and it is a Native American Medicine Wheel. I designed both of them myself myself. My second tattoo is on my right calf and it is an Ouroboros (which is a snake swallowing itself). I used to be quite the uber-pagan. It's funny now because my tattoos have nothing to do with my beliefs now. Sometimes I think they trip people out sometimes in the circles I travel in. If I had the choice to do it over again, I wouldn't. It's not that I'm ashamed or anything, but I just don't see the need for them. They served a purpose for me back then, but mostly they function as a bookmark for a time in my life. Permanent is a long time. :rsmile:

I'm a big Costello fan too. I would also recommend the Rhino reissues. I've had both the Columbia and Rykodisc issues also. Growing up, I never was a big Elvis Costello fan. I liked his hits, but I had never ventured into his albums. I bought Spike when it came out, but it didn't really grab me. The album that made me a HUGE fan was Mighty Like a Rose. I saw him on the subsequent tour (beard and all) and was blown away. I think I learned more about how to sing from listening to that cd. I have everything he's put out, but I haven't heard north yet. I'm a little nervous that it may be Juliet Letters Part 2. My favorite Costello album is Imperial Bedroom, but all his previous albums are also killer. I've really been getting into Get Happy lately. It's cool to see so many Elvis fans around here. :rsmile:

Thanks for the great tips! I'm going to try both methods. I really can see the point of Last In First Out. I find when everything is alphabetized and categorized that I just lose track of things. I mean, I know where the cds are, but when you have fifteen Lee Morgan cds grouped together, the individual albums don't stand out as much. jmjk, I'm going to try your compilation idea. It seems like a cool way to keep the music fresh, while I get to know the different albums. Thanks! :rsmile:

I really have enjoyed all your posts. I really want to have a healthier attitude towards music and collecting. I guess I thought more people were as rabid as I used to be. I've known quite a few people who even put me to shame. Clinton, I forgot that you were the one who had done the challenge. I really enjoyed following it on the ol' BNBB. I have to give you credit, you were a big influence on me to take a step back and look at myself and my music habit. I have tried to follow your challenge with my own variation. I've taken to listening only to the same five cds through the course of a week. It's been a great way to get to know and love stuff that I hadn't really explored deeply before. I agree with Simon that there isn't anything wrong with being a collector, but I know for myself that there is a danger that I lose sight of why I began collecting in the first place. :rsmile:

GA Russell, Thanks for the great tips! I've basically quit buying new recordings already, so I'll continue to do so. What is the LIFO method? I'd like to try it. One thing I was thinking about doing was putting cds that I haven't really gotten into yet into boxes and pretending I don't have them. I figure I could pretend I have a smaller collection and focus more on certain albums. Thanks to everyone for their input! :rsmile:

OUCH! That hurt. Now that I don't have money, that stings. I'm happy to be a fan. :rsmile:

I'm thinking the other way. 19 great reasons to leave California.

Thanks for the advice, Clinton! I'll whittle my collection with caution.

I've been wanting to have a thread on this subject and finally decided to because of something that Parkertown said in the emusic thread: I came to this conclusion about myself a few years ago. I had gotten to the place where I was buying at least one cd a day (usually jazz and usually more than one a day). I had amassed around 3000 jazz cds and about 1500 jazz lps by this time. This was all in a period of a little over 10 years. I also had a lot of music from different genres, but jazz was my obsession. My life consisted of listening to and reading books about jazz. I used to read every thread on the BNBB and be sent off to buying sprees. Mosaic and True Blue catalogs were my constant companions. Then one day I realized it just wasn't fun anymore. I was so obsessed with getting things before they went out of print, etc... that listening to jazz wasn't fun anymore. If I went somewhere and they were playing Kenny G, I would get all uppity. I realized I didn't like what I had become. Even now, I hate to admit that I don't enjoy jazz like I once did. It seems like it became an obligation at some point, instead of a joyful thing. The joy is coming back since I've cut WAY back on buying stuff. I'm just trying to enjoy what I already have and I'm seriously considering getting rid of a lot of my jazz cds and records. I just want to get back to knowing and loving the music instead of having it all. I'm just curious if any of you have had similar experiences.

Thanks Tony! I wish! :rsmile:

Thanks!

I hate to admit this, but speaking of the Wiggles. My son LOVES the Wiggles. I think I've seen every episode at least 3 times by now. What I'm embarrassed to admit is that I'm actually LOOKING FORWARD to the new episodes that they will start playing next month. I know I have no life but this takes the cake. :rsmile:

This is a great thread. Thanks Chuck! These kinds of things really are the best parts of life to me. I really dig the stories. My son and I have a lot of fun with music. I usually have my guitar around and he loves to strum it and sing with it. He's also a huge of Lou Donaldson's The Natural Soul. He had to hear it everyday for a couple months. He had this little dance he'd do when he wanted me to play it. When I'd pull out the cd after he'd done his little dance, he'd smile and get really excited. If I pulled out another cd after he'd done his dance, he'd make angry noises that meant no. He'd keep doing that until I got the LD cd out.

I hope my entry isn't too late. I've really enjoyed this thread. They really should talk to you guys about future BN covers. :rsmile:

While it may not be my favorite Ellington album, A Drum is a Woman on Columbia is my favorite cover. I wish I could find a picture of it. :rsmile:

Thanks guys!

Thanks Clinton! For the Andrew Hill and One For One text, I font I used was Haettenschweiler. The text has been stretched a bit. For the numbers and the other musicians, I used Georgia. :rsmile:

I'm a HUGE fan of Andrew Hill, but I've never been a fan of the One For One cover, so.....

Thanks Mule! I really lucked out when I bought most of the titles from the first series. This was back when Best Buy was selling all the full-priced cds for $11.99. I got most of the first and second series at various Best Buys. The high price is why I never bit on the sampler disc. I wish I would have.

Good one! I wondered if Paul Bley got the title for his album "The Floater" from a trip to the can.

I have them all except the collector's disc and the George Russell. I remember when the first batch was released. My local Tower Records had a bunch of copies of the Johnny Smith and the Dizzy Gillespie. It took me a while to track down the rest of that first batch. The subsequent releases were even harder to find. My absolute favorite of the series is the 3 disc Lee Konitz Motion set. I can truthfully say that this cd actually saved my life (or my sanity). My son cried and cried and cried in the months after he was born (he's 2 now). I seriously thought I was going to lose my mind. There was NOTHING I could do to calm him down. NOTHING until I put disc 1 of the Konitz set on the stereo. My son stopped crying and really got into the music. My wife had played music for him before and it didn't do anything for him, but the Konitz disc captivated him. To this day, he loves jazz. :rsmile:

For those who wonder what this metrosexual thing is, I've done some cut and paste for you. I really think this is pretty silly. from wordspy.com metrosexual (MET.roh.sek.shoo.ul) n. A dandyish narcissist in love with not only himself, but also his urban lifestyle; a straight man who is in touch with his feminine side. —metrosexuality n. from theage.com.au Rise of the Metrosexual March 11 2003 He loves Armani, is seen just as often near a catwalk as competing in sport, confesses an adulation for Kylie Minogue, even designs his own jewellery. But he's not gay. So Ian Thorpe told Australia in a radio interview last November. With interests outside the domain of the traditional, Aussie, macho male, Thorpe talked about his sexuality for the first time. He was flattered that the gay community identified with him, he said, but he was, in fact, heterosexual. "You know, I'm a little bit different to what most people would consider being an Australian male," Thorpe told ABC Radio. But he's not that different, at all. Men of all sexualities are taking a greater interest in their appearance. They go to hairdressers rather than barbers; avoid using soap because it's too harsh on their skin; visit the gym instead of playing sport and even have difficulty deciding what to wear. They're occupying their time differently - not only spending more of it in front of the mirror, but also at boutiques, in bars rather than pubs, enjoying a dance at a nightclub and going to beauty salons. Cosmetics brands such as Ella Bache say men make up as much as 40 per cent of their salon customers in some areas. Marketers are spurring on the change, dropping the macho element from products that target men. Gone are the tough male images, even from beer and car ads. Men's fashion chains are growing, with women's stores such as Esprit launching men's ranges, and department stores offering boutique-style experiences. Men's magazines are increasing their coverage of fashion - not just for editorial reasons, but because they're getting more ads. The men's title FHM says its fashion and grooming advertising has increased 35 per cent over the past three years. Twenty years ago, male fashion, skin care and vanity in general were identified with gay men. Now sexuality, it seems, is irrelevant. In fact, British newspapers have even found a new word for the softer man: the "metrosexual". David Beckham, the man whom British academics have credited with changing male behaviour, has been deemed the ultimate metrosexual. Beckham has helped break "masculine codes", says Warwick University sociology professor Dr Andrew Parker, "defying various manly expectations such as what clothes a man is allowed to wear". Mark Wahlberg's semi-naked appearance for Calvin Klein underwear in the early 1990s is often cited as the beginning of mainstream male vanity. Like Thorpe, he's a "little bit different" from the traditional, heterosexual male. Beckham may be captain of the English soccer team, but he wears sarongs and nail polish, and has even posed for gay magazines. As the American online magazine Salon said, he has admitted that he likes to be admired, and does not care if it's by women or by men. Whether they have heard of the term "metrosexual", that's how men across the world are appearing. Stores such as the Myer Grace Bros chain say it's a trend that's starting to hit the mainstream. This year, the company will launch a department for male cosmetics and fragrances. While David Jones says its men's cosmetics range is experiencing double-digit growth. There have always been men who have taken great care of their appearance, but now, says Myer Grace Bros cosmetics buyer Marissa Galatis, "we are trying to appeal to the wider, men's market. In particular, to young men: a lot of this growth is driven by them." Mark Wahlberg's semi-naked appearance for Calvin Klein underwear in the early 1990s is often cited as the beginning of mainstream male vanity. Marketing legend has it that the ad was aimed at a gay market, but straight men took notice. Whether it was because women were ogling, or men themselves thought the former rapper looked good, Calvin Klein soon became cult clubwear, with men wearing their pants low to show off the brand. Ten years ago, Weight-Watchers was strictly for women and "gutbusting" was seen as the more acceptable term for a bloke. Now it's OK for guys to watch their weight. "The under-40s are certainly interested in the way they look and their physique," says Allan Bolton, a key developer of WeightWatchers for Men. "Over-40s are interested in how they look for the health benefits." Role models are changing and it's not just Beckham and Thorpe. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Pat Rafter, Hugh Jackman, Lachlan Murdoch and footballers such as Craig Wing are manicuring their appearance and showing their softer side: Rafter appears as a caring father; Jackman in musicals as well as in tough-guy roles in films such as X-Men. Wing told women about his gentle side in a Cleo bachelor-of-the-year competition. In response to this groundswell, magazine publishers have established men's titles such as Men's Health and GQ. Even the blokier ones such as FHM and Ralph have increased their fashion and skin-care coverage. The general manager of men's wear at David Jones, David Bush, says, "There's no doubt that David Beckham, Robbie Williams and Ian Thorpe and the 'blokey blokes' that are interested in fashion send the message that, by being so, you are not going to look like a fairy. "Twenty years ago, we sold clothes and now we sell fashion." Younger men, in particular, are taking to their bodies with closer shavers, fragrances, moisturisers and hair dye. Calvin Klein's fragrances, Crave, is aimed primarily at 15 to 22-year-old males, who spend much more time in front of the mirror than their fathers. Why? As the presence of women increased in men's social and working lives - as their rights were belatedly recognised - men have changed the way they act. Straight men, some marketers believe, are changing because women demand their partners take greater effort with their appearance. "The feminist movement has been the biggest contributor to the men's market since it has developed," says Jean-Marc Carriol, director of the fashion company Trimex, which represents Clarins in Australia. As women have pushed for equal rights, Carriol says, "the success of that push has fundamentally altered the way men and women interact within the workplace. Appearance and grooming are really important." The workplace itself has changed for many men, too. As the proportion of white-collar workers grows, so does the need to look good. To compete in today's work environment, you must dress well, have your hair cut neatly and take care of your body. And as the world becomes increasingly globalised, Australian men are starting to see that men in other countries, particularly in Europe, proudly take care of themselves. Even with beer, marketers are taking on a less macho tone when they communicate with men. "We have certainly seen a change towards more segmentation (of the beer market)," says Lion Nathan's premium marketing director, Paul Foster. "There's still that 'hardcore' masculine image at the core end of the market, (but) there's also a lot more progressive market segments." Men are also changing the way they buy homeware, cars and electrical goods, says Alan Treadgold, director of research and consulting at the advertising agency Leo Burnett. "There's a lot of categories that are purchased by males, but using what we would conventionally regard as female cues," says Treadgold. "Traditionally, when purchasing home entertainment systems, we would expect guys to be motivated by gadgetry and technical features. But, increasingly, there's a certain type of male choosing it from what might be seen as female attributes, such as the environment of the store, level of service and other intangible things." In car advertising, for example, much more emphasis is being placed on the people driving and the feelings they are experiencing rather than the car's specifications. Global research by the advertising agency Euro RSCG last year showed that men were more secure in their masculinity, with those aged 40 and above displaying greater sensitivity, particularly through family values. "The definition of what it means to be male is changing," says Euro RSCG's strategy planning director, Matt Donovan. This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/...7144914842.html

It's cool that there are so many G&L fans here. I've got 4 G&L's and 1 of their Tribute guitars. I love them all. Harold Z brings up a good point about rosewood. I have American reissues of the '62 Telecaster and the '62 Jazzmaster. The rosewood on their necks is much less porous than the rosewood on my regular American series Stratocaster. They play pretty quick. Almost like maple. Harold Z is correct that there weren't many maple necks made during the early to mid sixties, but by the late sixties, Fender was offering both rosewood and maple as an option. The maple necks were different than the fifties ones in that they now used a maple cap fretboard instead of a 1 piece neck like the fifties guitars. Red, I hope we haven't confused you too much, but thanks for bringing this topic up. I can talk guitars all day.