Lovin' some Shaun Cassidy

So my dear friend Morgan has a special place in her heart for Shaun Cassidy. That only cements even more my love and admiration for her. Her "Cool Factor" is off the charts.

Here's something you may not know about him (and why would you)

Since his teeny bopper days he has gone on to be fairly prolific in terms of developing television series (which have generally met with moderate at best results) He seems to be infatuated with darker subjects, as evidenced in the following series he has produced:

American Gothic

The Agency

Invasion

But wedged ever so slightly between his teeny bopper records and his acting/television production career is an obscure record he recorded with my musical hero, Todd Rundgren.

The time was 1980, In an attempt to radically change Shauns image, Todd Rundgren and Utopia were recruited to reinvent the teen idol for the new wave 80's. The album was called WASP.

They wound up essentially remaking Rundgrens "Faithful" album with lesser known cover songs, looser arrangements, and Shaun on lead vocals. WASP is an eclectic selection of covers, mixed with a few Rundgren originals, all delivered with adventurous, uniformly fine vocals from Shaun. When released it went nowhere, Shaun didn't tour to support it and so it stands as the last recordings he ever made.

Being a fan of Todds productions I immediately fell in love with the record. To me it was a Utopia record with a guest vocalist.

Track list:

Rebel, Rebel - Bowie Cover

Cool Fire - Rundgren Original and my favorite song on the record

The Book I Read - Talking Heads cover

Pretending - Rundgren Original

Shake Me, Wake Me - Motown Classic

It's My Life - Animals Cover

So Sad About Us - Pete Townshend cover

Wasp - Rundgren Original

Selfless Love - Rundgren Original

Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Ian Hunter cover

The female brain who thirsts for Champagne.........

Now where did my glass go?  I can't spew wisdom without my champagne....

So talking about media - my dear Dave loves him some music.  He's inspired me to become more critical and interested.  So......

I think a great question when you meet someone is "what is the first concert you ever went to?"

Because....

The way they talk about that first concert - AND the caliber of that first concert - are good barometers for character.

Now before I tell you who I saw for the first time ever... I have to tell you my story of pure envy.  The kind that seeps into your bones and makes you unapologetic and slightly mad.  Yes, one of my best girlfriends saw my future boyfriend, Shaun "dude - there's still time for us to fall in love" Cassidy.  I was 7, and I had the mint green teeshirt with a sparkly iron-on image of Shaun - you know the one where he's wearing all white on his first full-fledged album?  Um too much info?  Well anyway, my first 45 record ever was "Da Doo Run Run."  I played it over and over on my Winnie the Pooh record player..... AND I even sung it at the school talent show with my friend Julie Dowell in kindergarten.  (Pause for a moment - she died of a brain tumor in the 3rd grade..... I hope still she remembers our big "musical debut").

Anyway, the way one talks about their first concert really is a great segue into good conversation, but also into their true musical soul.....  My first concert ever, technically - I was 4 years old.  My sister wasn't even born yet!  My parents took me to see Dr. Hook.  I loved "I am a Lamb" and "Queen of the Silver Dollar" - and yes, if you know me the latter is a perfect anthem for this silly lover of the bottle.  :-)

I sat on my dad's shoulders and rocked out - like any honest music-loving 4 year old would.  And I followed that up 11 years later with a ZZ Top Concert in Peoria Illinois.  Where I smelled pot for the first time.....  So, I am unapologetic about my first experiences, but damn - I would trade both of those experiences in for some Shaun Cassidy love.  I still have that damn 45 around here somewhere.  Along with Steve Martin's "King Tut."  I'm thinking it might be worth something one day?

Well, maybe not.

Documentaries as of late

I have pretty much gone through the entire Netflix documentary section. Heres a small list of the ones that were notable:

1. Blood Into Wine - follows Tool frontman Maynard Keenans attempt to establish a world class winery in Northern Arizona.

2. Man on a Wire - Chronicles Philippe Petits 1974 high wire walk between the World Trade Center towers. The photos of the towers under construction are incredible!

3. Why Did We Laugh - Various comedians discussing the life and comic times of Sam Kinison. Hard to believe he's been gone for 19 years. I can still hear that scream....

4. I Need That Record - Shoutout to the dying breed that is the independent record store

5. The Art of the Steal - This film traces the history of the Barnes collection of Post-Impressionist paintings, which was worth billions and became the subject of a power struggle after the 1951 death of the owner. Dr. Albert Barnes collected 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos and many other valuable paintings. But the political wrangling over the collection eventually led to its division.

The Male Big Brain

New Blog Site

Along with my friend Morgan (a cooler chick you will not find) I will enter the blogging octagon. Let the games begin!

Welcome to our chatter......

Dave and I have been friends for quite some time..... 2006, I believe.  And as the new year approaches, we decided that we should rant about various topics and see if anyone really cares.  WE care, so maybe it is just live chatter between the two of us, but that is a chance we are willing to take.

Welcome aboard!