Music Listography #5 - List the First Albums You Ever Owned...

To quote Jay from "Mallrats", "The Jedi Mind Trick...Holy shit! Motherfuckin' Yoda'n shit!"

With the Yoda reference now out of the way, I bring back Music Listography as a bloggy sorbet from my Day 3 posts which I've been steadily pumping out much like the Duggar woman does with babies or those tennis ball shooting machines. Same thing.

Each category is a post waiting to happen...

And voila....here's the subject! [I just realized I wrote the wrong Donny Osmond album, oops]


List the First Albums You Ever Owned

(I added a couple more entries after I took this photo and I've rearranged them in choronological order because I'm anal like that)

"Too Young" by Donny Osmond.  Although the album came out in 1972, my parents bought it for me in 1976.  The album also contains the song, "Puppy Love" which I erroneously wrote in my book. The album image below is in Spanish. The English version photo keeps getting x'd out when I post it. :(

I mean, c'mon, what young girl back then didn't like Donny Osmond? He was the the Justin Bieber of the 70's but squeakier clean! Ha ha. I think this album had the song "Puppy Love". OMFG, I just outed myself as a (former) Donny Osmond fan. And yes, I wore purple socks in 2nd grade because of Donny.

(in searching for images of purple socks, this photo was taken from a blogpost that also referenced Donny Osmond!)

"Live at Budokan" by Cheap Trick (The album was released in 1978 but I bought it in a classroom auction. Even though it was scratched like fk, my best friend N and I wore the grooves out on this thing!)

Plus, Robin Zander was a total FOX! "I Want You to Want Me!". This is absolutely one of my favorite albums of all time!

"Off the Wall" (1979) by Michael Jackson

I got this for Christmas '79. I have a photo of me wearing a striped velour sweater and red baggy stringtie pants holding this album. Notice that's not posted here, heh.

"Beauty and the Beat" (1981) by The Go Go's

I got this record as a Christmas gift from my godbrother.  He was so happy to pick it out for me since he knew that I loved music and not socks or underwear. Ha ha. The record came in an LP shaped giftbox from Licorice Pizza! I think I played this record to death as well. Their signature song, "We Got the Beat" was famously featured as the first song in 1981's classic teen flick "Fast Times at Ridgemont High".

"Pyromania" (1983) by Def Leppard

Besides having a cool album cover (design by the famous Hipgnosis), the album was engineered by the ex Mr. Shania Twain, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who earlier produced AC/DC's blockbuster comeback album, "Back in Black" (1980).  Their songs and videos for  "Photograph", "Rock! Rock! 'Til You Drop!" and "Rock of Ages" were on heavy rotation on KGB 101.5, KPRI 106.5 and on MTV. I begged my mom to get me the sleeveless Union Jack shirt (which I still have)! Every song on this album is great!

"Declaration" (1984) by The Alarm

I bought this album with junior high graduation gift money in 1984. The Alarm were an up and coming band and billed derisively as "U2 Jr.", which I disagreed with. Their sound was quite cool - acoustic folk punk. Their songs were also political, "Marching On" and "Sixty-Eight Guns". My personal favorite was the melancholy song, "The Deceiver". 

"Shout at the Devil" (1984) by Motley Crue

Another band that I was into back then.  I totally dug their makeup (although it had been done years before during the 70's glam rock years and famously with Kiss) and of course, their music. "Too Young to Fall in Love", their killer cover of the Beatles' "Helter Skelter", and my signature song, "Looks that Kill"! Who knew that Nikki Sixx would end up dating Vanity (from Vanity 6) and is now engaged to that LA Ink Chick? Vince Neil (who I had a crush on) - wtf happened! Ugh! Tommy Lee? Let's not even go there!

Any readers care to share the first albums you ever owned? C'mon, don't be shy...

Music Listography #3 - Favorite Movie Songs

As a palate cleanser, it's the return of "Music Listography - Your Life in Playlists". This is the 3rd installment. This awesome birthday gift was courtesy of TORC.

Today's topic, "List your Favorite Songs from the Movies"

OMFG, where do I begin?

From "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (One of the greatest teen films ever made!)

"Somebody's Baby" by Jackson Brown

SCENE - When Stacy and Ron the Stereo salesman have sex in the baseball dugout at "The Point". This song is possibly one of my top faves of all time. I also like the remake by Phantom Planet which was featured in the teen parody movie,"Not Another Teen Movie". To add more unwanted trivia to your already addled brains, the lead singer of Phantom Planet had a bit part in "Donnie Darko" as one of Seth Rogen's prep school friends (yes, THE Seth Rogen before he got all famous).

"Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin

SCENE - Right after Damone gives his advice to Mark Ratner, "When it comes to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of "Led Zeppelin IV". The scene cuts to the Rat in his station wagon blasting this song. What's funny about this is that people think this is a mistake since "Kashmir" IS NOT even from this album; it's supposed to seem that the Rat is such a loser that he plays the WRONG album. Also, Cameron Crowe (who penned the novel) was a teen wunderkind, traveling with with bands such as Led Zeppelin as a young Rolling Stone reporter. Led Zeppelin was notorious for NOT releasing any of their songs for film usage but this was one of the songs they allowed Crowe to use for his film.

"Moving in Stereo" by The Cars

SCENE - The song playing in the background while Brad Hamilton spies on Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates). Yes, this is the infamous pool scene in which Linda is wearing the fabled "red bikini". If you are over the age of 30 and breathing, you should know this film. If not, then where the fk have you been, you Luddites! This pool scene was later spoofed by the band Fountains of Wayne using Rod Stewart's hot MILFY ex-wife, Rachel Hunter in the video, "Stacy's Mom" (YouTube that one; it's pretty funny).

From "Say Anthing"

"One Big Rush" by Joe Satriani from "Say Anything"

SCENE - Lloyd Dobler trying kick boxing and getting his ass kicked by Don "the Dragon" Wilson. Joe Satriani had just released "Surfing with the Alien" in 1987 and was really big. I was totally into Satriani, Steve Vai and Eric Johnson (the holy trinity of kick ass guitarists; each with their own unique style and sound). This was the perfect song for that scene.

"In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel from "Say Anything"

SCENE - Lloyd Dobler in long trenchcoat outside his girlfriend's house with arms raised holding a boombox. So romantic...I think every girl back in 1989 wanted their boyfriend to do this.  Ha ha, this puppet parody hit the nail on the head down to the "Clash" t-shirt!

From "16 Candles"

"Little Bitch" by The Specials (here's an obscure one!)

SCENE - Where Farmer Ted tries to talk to Samantha Baker and her friends while sitting on the bleachers and you can hear this catchy ska song in the background...

"True" by Spandau Ballet

SCENE - Samantha Baker fantasizes about Jake Ryan while watching him dance with Caroline. "Huh huh huh huh, huh! I know...this...much...is...True!" (sing in an anguished voice). This song also made a memorable appearance in 1996's "The Wedding Singer" towards the end when Steve Buscemi's character is crooning the now classic 80's love song to Robbie and Julia (Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore's characters).

From "Crybaby"
"Doin' Time for Being Young" - sung in reality by a dude named James Intveldt but performed and lip synced impressively by Johnny Depp!!!!
SCENE - When Crybaby is dancing in jail with the inmates a la the Elvis "Jail House Rock" sequence. Holy hell, Johnny Depp was (and still is) HAWT!!!

From "Donnie Darko"
"The Killing Moon" by Echo and the Bunnymen
SCENE - The opening sequence with Jake Gyllenhaal's character riding a bike down a mountain. In the director's cut, the original song is the equally haunting, "Never Tear Us Apart" by INXS

From "Pretty in Pink"
"Thieves Like Us" (instrumental version) by New Order
SCENE - I believe this song is the montage where she is making her prom dress. I'll have to check my dvd again because unfortunately, this movie is not yet available on iTunes. Damn them! But yeah, this is a great version of "Thieves Like Us".

From "Remember Me"
"Andvari" by Sigur Ros
SCENE - The love scene between Tyler and Ally (RPattz and Emily de Ravin). Too bad it was only PG-13! It's really a very pretty song even though I can't understand what the dude's singing (it's in Icelandic).

From "Shawn of the Dead"
"Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen
SCENE - This has got to be one of THE BEST uses of a Queen song EVER! It's towards the end where Shawn and his friends are holed up in the local pub, the Winchester. A zombie breaks in and tries to attack them and they start to attack him while this song is being played on the jukebox! Hilarious times to be had by all!

Honorable Mentions:
"Wild Sex in the Working Class" by Oingo Boingo (from "16 Candles)
"Sandy" by John Travolta (from "Grease") - totally cheesy!
"Left of Center" by Suzanne Vega (from "Pretty in Pink")
"Bring on the Dancing Horses" by Echo and the Bunnymen (also from "Pretty in Pink")
"Oh Yeah" by Yellow (from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off")
"Are You Ready for the Sex Girls" by the Gleaming Spires (from "Revenge of the Nerds")
"You Took My Heart and You Tore it Apart (So F--k You) by Harry Nillson (from "Private School" which also starred the babelicious Phoebe Cates)
"Que Sera Sera" by Sly and the Family Stone (from "Heathers")
"Here's to Love (Down with Love) performed by Ewan McGregor and Renee Zellweger (from "Down with Love")

And there's tons more songs but those are the first few I can think of!  You can tell I'm a child of the 80's! (Actually I was a teen, but you know wut I mean, eh!)

So dear readers, what are your favorite songs from the movies and why?

The Return of Music Listography!

It's back...Music Listography - Your Life in Playlists!

See my FIRST Music Listography post here! The topic was "List the Music Your Parents Listened To When You Were A Kid". If you missed that post, then dagnabbit, click on that link and read it now dammit!

This book was one of the best birthday gifts I have ever received! Thanks TORC (The Other Rock Chick)!!!

This installment is:

LIST YOUR TOP FAVORITE FEMALE VOCALISTS OF ALL TIME

Of course, this is the Canine Cologne version. Loyal readers already know of my love of rock/hard rock/classic rock/heavy metal. So, don't expect to find any "nice" singers who can perform vocal histrionics like Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey , Alanis Morisette, or even Beyonce or any of their ilk here in this list. Oh heyell no (say that like "Debbie Pelt" from the latest episode of "True Blood")!

True to form, here goes...

Aja Kim
Former lead singer of the Iron Maidens (the only female Iron Maiden tribute band). This lady is BAD AZZ!!! Although she's practically a female Bruce Dickinson who can hit the wailing high notes and low throaty growls worthy of a heavy metal vocalist, she is also an accomplished singer who can sing a variety of musical genres. Most notably, she has toured and performed with Clarence Clemons (of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band) and Phil Campbell of Motorhead. I have both Iron Maidens albums ("The Iron Maidens" and "Route 666")and I think she's even better than Bruce Dickinson!  Her renditions of such Maiden classics like "Number of the Beast", "Wasted Years", "Aces High", "The Trooper" and "Run to the Hills" make me wanna turn that shit up to 11 and peel the paint off the walls!

Her web site: Aja Kim

Eleanor Academia
Although Eleanor is now based in LA, she was born in Hawaii and grew up in San Diego. She is a graduate of Sweetwater High School (mid 70's). Her website doesn't say it, but she IS Filipina American. More points in my book, plus she's mega talented!  She is not only an accomplished musician but a martial artist as well. She is adept at playing both indigenous Philippine instruments as well as modern instruments. I had the pleasure of meeting her back in 1998 when her band performed at Miramar College for the Kapwa Conference. Her drummer at the time was Terry Bozzio (formerly of Missing Persons) and she was smokin' awesome that day! The album she was promoting at the time was "Oracle of the Black Swan" (1998), a hybrid of traditional Philippine percussion (gongs, kulintang, drums) and heavy metal!!! In the mid 80's, she toured and performed with Ray Parker, Jr. (Hey, it's the "Ghostbusters" guy) and released several light jazz albums. Songs of note from "Oracle of the Black Swan": "Unimpressed", "Middle Child", "Alone", "In a Silent Prayer", and "Sunrise". Listen to snippets of the tracks here.

Check out her site which has her latest CD, "When You Live" Eleanor Academia.

Ann and Nancy Wilson (of Heart)

Now let's go back to the 70's. Ann (the brunette) and Nancy (blonde) are the sister power duo fronting the Seattle based rock band, Heart. In their early days, they were likened to "Little Led Zep" due to Ann's vocals which were like a female version of Robert Plant. However, she developed her own signature style and both sisters are responsible for killer anthems like "Crazy on You", "Barracuda", "Magic Man", "Heartless" and "Straight On For You", although my personal favorites are "Dreamboat Annie" and the beautiful ballad "How Deep it Goes". They kinda jumped the shark in the mid 80's when big hair and shoulder pads and power ballads were in ("Never", "What About Love"). I wasn't into that period of Heart. Just early Heart.

Cool trivia - Nancy Wilson is married to Cameron Crowe who wrote and directed one of my favorite movies of all time., "Fast Times at Ridgemont High". She appears in the movie as the "beautiful blonde in the Corvette". It's the scene where Brad Hamilton is delivering fish sandwiches to IBM and he catches her eye during a traffic stop. He realizes that she is NOT flirting with him, but LAUGHING at him (due to his pirate costume) and he angrily throws out his hat and the fish sandwiches out of his car window.

So far, I've chosen chicks who can not only sing, but also play instruments (okay, except for Aja Kim since she is just a vocalist, but still!) Something about a woman slinging a guitar is pretty damn hot!

Heart's "How Deep It Goes" from the album, "Dreamboat Annie" (1976):

Veronica Freeman
She is the frontwoman of San Diego based heavy metal band, Benedictum (albums "Benedictum" and "Seasons of Tragedy").  In addition to being really, uh "endowed", this woman can really belt it out. Forget about the boobage, she can sing AND kick your ass back and forth with her hands tied behind her back and blindfolded based on the sound of her voice alone. She was the former lead singer of a Ronnie James Dio tribute band and oh my Gawd, she's like a female Dio! That's crazy scary! Whether she's singing ominously in Latin or covering an old Sabbath ditty, this is music to listen to when you want to pet kittens, knit a tea cozie, lay out scrapbook pages, or maybe, just maybe even break stuff! Insert twisted and sardonic maniacal laughter here.

Here's one of my favorite Benedictum songs, "Benedictum". All hail and raise your hands in the horned salute:

Stevie Nicks
One of the original divas of rock. If you don't already know who Stevie Nicks is, she was one of the members of Fleetwood Mac.   Her solo songs include "Silver Springs", "Sleeping Angel" (this was on the "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" soundtrack), "Gypsy", "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" (her duet with Tom Petty), and  "Edge of Seventeen" (the guitar riff was sampled by Beyonce for her song "Bootylicious"). I remember her album "Belladonna" being really big back in junior high. She was also quite the stylish diva with her ehtereal flowing skirts, platform boots, floaty scarves, long earrings and feathered hair.

Chrissie Hynde

Now we're getting to the big three...I used to do my eyeliner like Chrissie Hynde back in junior high. I loved her jet black hair with her eyebrow skimming bangs. I imitated her thick black eyeliner on the bottom lids and thought I was cool, but I'm sure I just looked like a drowned raccoon!

I first remember hearing "Brass in Pocket" when it came 1980 (6th grade!). I was instantly hooked. Her debut album, "The Pretenders" was one of my favorite cassettes back in junior high. I was not only enamored of her tough rocker chick look, but also with her sultry voice and the chiming guitars of Hynde and the late James Honeyman-Scott. The fact that she was the frontwoman didn't escape me either. Instead of being just a pretty face and in the background, Hynde exuded a tough chick exterior with a don't give a shit attitude along with her Keith Richard's inspired wardrobe of black jeans, white t-shirt and leather jacket.

One of her earlier hits from the debut album was "Stop Your Sobbing" which was first done by the Kinks. Ironically, she later became the girlfriend of Kinks frontman Ray Davies (songwriter for "Stop Your Sobbing") and had a child with him in the 80's before dumping him and marrying that red headed dude from Simple Minds, Jim Kerr (she had a child with him too!). My favorite Pretenders song include: "Kid", "Mystery Achievement", "Back on the Chain Gang", "2000 Miles", "The English Roses", "Precious", "Talk of the Town" and most of all, "Message of Love". There is a really great live album she released a few years back where she performs her hits, "The Isle of View". It's acoustic but also with a string quartet. Listen to that album's version of "Back on the Chain Gang"; it will take your breath away.

[edit - 7/26 - I received a frantic voice message from Superman today imploring me to change the info re: Chrissie Hynde's second baby daddy. I erroneously wrote that Jim Kerr was from Simply Red. Oh, no, no, no. That was NOT correctamundo and as a music fan, I hang my head in shame. Jim Kerr is from Simple Minds. D'oh! For the record, the lead singer of Simply Red was Mick Hucknall, who later briefly appeared in that Cole Porter flick, "De-Lovely" which starred Kevin "Talk Italian to me" Kline aka Mr. Phoebe Cates).]

For the young 'uns, Chrissie Hynde also appeared in an old "Friends" episode where Phoebe Buffay's teaches Chrissie Hynde how to play "Smelly Cat" (and she does it better too).

Here's one of my favorite Pretenders songs, "Stop Your Sobbing" (1979):

Pat Benatar
Next up is another awesome female vocalist, the one and only Pat Benatar. Trained classicaly in opera, Benatar soon became one of the biggest voices in rock. She  hit it big in 1979 with her debut album, "In the Heat of the Night". Starting in 1980, she went on to win four Grammies for Best Female Rock Performance for four years straight. Her debut album, "In the Heat of the Night" had the songs "We Live for Love", "No You Don't", and "Heartbreaker". Her second album, "Crimes of Passion" was a bigger smash with the hits, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", "Hell is for Children" (controversial due to its themes of child abuse), "Treat Me Right" (I loved this song), "You Better Run" (this was cool too, she was so tuff!).  I think it's so romantic that she married her guitarist, Neil Geraldo and is still married to him after all these years! He was and still is an awesome guitarist!

Pop culture altert - In "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", there is a scene where Stacy Hamilton (Jennifer Jason Leigh's character) is lamenting to Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates' character) insecure about her looks because she sees several girls in school dressed up like Pat Benatar. The girls are wearing skin tight leggings with ankle boots, belted striped tops and headbands. The 80's look is back in! Ha ha!

Here's some cool trivia, the music video for the song "You Better Run" was the second music video ever aired on MTV in 1981. The first, of course, was the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star".  Damn, look how skinny she was when she was young.

Here's one of my favorite Pat Benatar songs and videos, "Shadows of the Night". This is the live performance version. I couldn't get the actual video (embedding was disabled) but she plays a Rosie the Riveter character and daydreams about being a WWII spy and escaping from the Nazis). That video can be seen here on YouTube:

Joan Jett

I saved the best for last...my musical heroine, Joan Jett.

She is my favorite female vocalist of all time! Like Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders, I emulated Joan Jett's signature thick black eyeliner back in junior high (9th grade, when I first started wearing makeup). I totallydug her look (but never dressed like it until years later of course, ha ha): leather pants, jacket, boots, rocker chick hair, everything. I loved that she played guitar and that she was the leader of her band.

As a founding member of the Runaways, an all teenage girl group which formed in 1976(predating the Riot Grrrl movement), Joan Jett had stage presence and guts.  With such jailbait anthems like "Cherry Bomb", "You Drive Me Wild" and the prison "opera" "Dead End Justice", they were also majorly exploited by their Svengali manager Kim Fowley who bilked them of profits and verbally (and most likely sexually) abused various band members.

After several years in the group and eventually becoming lead singer after original singer, Cherie Currie left due to personal issues, Joan Jett left and disbanded the group in 1979 and formed her owned record label in 1980, Blackheart Records. This was after being rejected by 23 record labels. In doing so, Jett became one of the first female recording artists to found her own record label, which still continues to this day.

Joan Jett is still going strong today. She's totally an inspiration and I really love her songs and her musicianship. Although many of her hits were based on cover songs (like Tommy James and the Shondells' "Crimson and Clover, Gary Glitter's "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)", and Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People"), I really liked her guitar heavy sound and her rough vocals. Songs like, "I Love Rock and Roll", "Bad Reputation", "Victim of Circumstance", "Roadrunner" and "I Hate Myself for Loving You" are among my faves.  Can you believe she is 52 now??? Wut???? I want to look that good when I'm 52!

Cool trivia: In the 2007 movie "Juno", the main character mentions her three favourite bands, one of which is The Runaways.

*Note, in 1990 she released an all covers album, "The Hit List".

"I don't give a damn about my BAD REPUTATION":

Until the next Music Listography post!

So, who are YOUR favorite female vocalists of all time and why?

Music Listography - Your Life in (Play)Lists: Premiere Post

Thanks to the lovely TORC, I received this most fk awesome book for my birthday a few weeks ago...

Can you spell P.E.R.F.E.C.T. for me?

This is exactly how I think!

This book has got to be one of the best presents ever!!! TORC, if you're reading this, thanks again!

For the debut post of my personal Music Listography picks on different topics, I shall start with this (since I thought it was pretty easy off the top of my head). So yeah, don't laugh!

LIST THE MUSIC YOUR PARENTS LISTENED TO

WHEN YOU WERE A KID

The very cool and smooth Nat King Cole:

"Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa..."

You can't go wrong with Elvis...

"It's FAT Elvis to you there mister! Thank you verruh much!"

Unfortunately, we had to endure this guy, Englebert Humperdinck (aka "Englebert Hump My Dick" as we kids rudely nicknamed him):

"The ladies love my my muttonchop sideburns..."

My mom really liked Connie Francis (yowza, check out her bouffant):

Hummina hummina!

While my dad liked Johnnny Cash:

The Man in Black was always cool

They also made us suffer to the sounds of the  Ray Conniff Singers

"Let us unleash the wordless vocal horror that is the Ray Conniff  Singers upon these innocent children who will be scarred for life!"

and Lawrence Welk too!

"And a one and a two and a..."

Pat Boone was also another singer our virgin ears were assaulted with:

"Am I white enough for you?"

My mom really loved Johnny Mathis's voice. Years later, I found out he was the one singing the duet "Without Us" (Theme song for the TV show, "Family Ties") with Deniece Williams!  He was pretty handsome when he was young! The dude was smooth!

"Hey now! How YOU doin'?"

Can you tell my mom loved the crooners? Here's another one she liked (and that we kids hated), Paul Anka:

"I have no idea why I'm so popular!"

And last but not least, my mom's ultimate fave, the very hairy, hip shakin' and  panty dropping Sex Bomb himself, Tom Jones!!!!

"Rock out with your Cock out!"

My parents aren't that old, really! But they sure listened to some old blue haired shit. The only remotely cool singer on that list was Elvis! Anyways, that's it for this first installment of random pages chosen from "Music Listography". I think I'm going to have A LOT of fun with this!

What music did your parents play when you were a kid? I WANT TO KNOW!!!!