Labor Day, Week, Month

I have been busy, but having fun, too.

Last night’s game in Philly was awesome.  I got to see one of the best pitchers of the last 15 years plus one of the best young pitchers go at it an a K duel.  Plus, I saw the second coming of Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams, Brad “Lit Up” Lidge struggle through another save opp.

The best part of the game was the company.  Ken and Joe were born and raised in Philly.  They love their sports teams.  I’m the guy without a Phillies cap on:

Ken, Steve, Me, Joe

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World famous journalist, Bobby Ross, Jr. arrives in town later today.  I look forward to visiting some this evening.  He will be in the city Saturday and Sunday covering the Northeastern Lectureship hosted by the Harlem Church of Christ.

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Tapestry of the Times is an awesome podcast of great old music.  I listened to an ep that had Leadbelly, Chilean folk music, Woody Guthrie, coal mine songs, and more. Free podcast with great music.  They have the Smithsonian music archives as a source.

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I am beginning a series on the Minor Prophets this Sunday.  Monday is church picnic day.  Tuesday is my day-long leadership class.  I thought things would slow down after VBS.  Maybe by the end of the year, things will be calm.

What are you up to?

Hope you have a great weekend and a GREAT week-beginning with the LORD!

O Bluegrass! Where art Thou?

I love bluegrass music.  Something about those twangy metal strings.  Even though I grew up in KY, I didn’t listen to it much and didn’t have any friends or family who listened to it.  I acquired the taste in the last 10 years or so.

If you have some interest in the music and like it enough to want to learn more and maybe even start a collection, here are some recommendations in order.  You can download some or buy a used copy off Amazon.

Appalachian Stomp
Good variety from early pioneers like Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs then through Del McCoury and JD Crowe up to Alison Krauss.  Also has highly recognizable stuff like “Dueling Banjos” from that awful film and Beverly Hillbillies TV theme.

Hand-Picked: 25 years of Rounders (major bluegrass label)
2 CD set for cheap with great stuff on it. “Old Home Place” and “High on a Mountain” are two of my favs. “Barrel of Fun” makes my instrumental list.

Home on the Highways: Band Picked Favorites by Alison Krauss and Union Station (available at Cracker Barrel.  The Ricky Scaggs “High Notes” is really good, too) Her voice, her fiddling, plus Dan Tyminski are simply awesome.  Also a good intro to Alison, some tracks are more of a pop/country sound than pure bluegrass.

For the Advanced:  If you are already a fan and like the high, twangy voice and great picking, download “Deeper Shade of Blue” by Del McCoury today!

Now on to some of My Favorites:

• “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Hoe Corn” by Alison Krauss and Union Station
• “The Old Home Place” by JD Crowe and the New South
• “Rain Rain Please Go Away” by Alison Krauss and Union Station
• “Bright Sunny South” by Alison Krauss and Union Station
• “High on a Mountain” by Del McCoury
• “True Love Never Dies” by Del McCoury
• “A Deeper Shade of Blue” by Del McCoury
• “Big Rock in the Road” by Del McCoury

Great Gospel Bluegrass songs:

• “I Know His Voice” by Del McCoury
• “Every Humble Knee Must Bow” by the Nashville Bluegrass Band
• “Recoverin’ Pharisee” by Del McCoury
• “On the Sea of Life” by Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver

Instrumentals-Awesome pickin’!

• “Unionhouse Branch” by Alison Krauss and Union Station
• “Choctaw Hayride” by Alison Krauss and Union Station
• “Barrel of Fun” by Country Cooking
• “Crazy Creek” by Bill Keith
• “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” by Earl Scruggs and Foggy Mountain Boys
• “Nine Pound Hammer” by the Kentucky Colonels
• “Quicksburg Rendezvous” by Del McCoury

Recovering Pharisee

I love this old bluegrass song and am going to incorporate it into my intro to a series on Sanctification.  I have the Del McCoury version, which sadly, I couldn’t find on Utube.

My sermon series will go like this:

Intro to Sanctification:  what is it?  why is it so important?

The Power of Sin

What God Has Done

What God Expects You To Do

We Need Each Other

RECOVERING PHARISEE
words and music by Buddy Greene

I’m a pharisee in recovery
With new eyes I can see a big sinner in me
But it’s the way of my human heart
To confess other people’s sin,
Reluctant to admit my part or the deeper problem within.
But, thank God, He won’t let me be, or remain in my hypocrisy
Sooner or later I’ll be on my knees
honest to God a recovering Pharisee

I’m a sinner and a saint simultaneously
I’m not what I was or what I’m goin’ to be
Still I’ve got that ol’ tendency to be all a wicked man can be
It takes more than knowin’ right from wrong
It takes more than singin’ gospel songs
It takes the life of the Great I Am to produce any good in me
He’s the Vine I’m the branch and I’m learnin’ to be
Honest to God, a recovering Pharisee

I need the God of all grace each and every day
If I’m to run his race if I’m to walk in His way
I don’t have to be a slave to sin I don’t have to let the devil win
Cause the Son of God lives in me and He promises to set me free
So, Jesus, help my unbelief so I can follow you faithfully
You’re the Shepherd I’m the sheep and you’re helpin’ me be
Honest to God, a recovering Pharisee

What is Your Favorite Cover Song?

I have been thinking about cover songs lately.  Songs that were released and recognized by one singer/group and later redone by someone else just as good or maybe better.

After you add your suggestions, maybe I will create a poll. Here is my list:

• Alien Ant Farm’s version of Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson
• Jimi Hendrix’s version of All Along the Watch Tower by Dylan
• Johnny Cash’s version of Hurt by Trent Reznor (NIN)
• Aerosmith’s version of Come Together by the Beatles

I am sure there are many more, especially from other genre.   So, what is your favorite?

And TREY, you cannot suggest The Hoff’s version of “Hooked on a Feelin’!!!”

Monster Ballads: Platinum-A Review

First of all, it’s kinda hard to confess, but apparently many of my favorite songs, type of songs are sappy, hard-rock love songs with wailing guitars and sung by screeching, large-haired voices.  There!  I said it.

Now, on to some awards (based solely on the songs included in the double CD set).

Worst song included: Tie: Headed for a Heartbreak by Winger and Only Time Will Tell by Nelson

• Winger has already been deleted from my Digital Player, Nelson will be gone soon.

Most Annoying acoustic campfire song: Tie: To Be With You by Mr. Big and More than Words by Extreme

• Okay, I kinda like both, but two things keep coming into my head.
• First, the stupid video for Be With You with the revolving camera, which preceded the “That 70s Show” gimmick by a few years.
• More than Words is a beautifully played and sung song that can be summed up by an awful, sinful, manipulative lie, “if you loved me, you would have sex with me.”  I have always despised that and now that I have a daughter who will be a teenage in 10 years, it’s worse.
• Winner: To Be With You for being more innocent and less sinful

Best High Wail:  Sebastian Bach of Skid Row for I Remember You

• Between 18 and Life and this song, Skid Row contributed a lot to 80s Hard Rock
• Last Summer a local rock station in NJ had a contest where Sebastian Bach would come and perform at your house.  That says a lot, right there.

Worst High Wail:  The guy from Steelheart, I’ll Never Let You Go

• I like it but skip it often.  I am unable to listen to it a lot.

Most Depressing Song: Tie: House of Pain or Don’t Close Your Eyes

• House of Pain is about Dead-beat dads, the other one about suicide.
• the Pathos is addictive
• Winner: House of Pain because of more universal appeal, more have been affected by absent dads than suicide

Worst Voice: Fly High Michelle, Nuff Z’nuff

• Nasally. Wish someone else had sung this one.  Otherwise a great song.

Most Beautiful Acoustic:  Tough Choice

• Silent Lucidity by Queensryche
• Intro to Love Song by Telsa
• When the Children Cry by White Lion

Best Song with Whistling and Socio-Historicial Significance: Winds of Change by Scorpions

• Great Song that I love every time.
• Has something to do with the fall of the Berlin Wall and Glasnost

Best Slow Guitar Solo: Ballad of Jayne by L.A. Guns

Sappiest Sentiment: Another Tough Choice

• When I see you Smile by Bad English
• Nevermind, 32-Way Tie

Top Five Songs (after repeated listening):

1. Every Rose Has its Thorns by Poison
2. Love Song by Telsa
3. Is This Love? by Whitesnake
4. Heaven by Warrant
5. Tie: The Flame by Cheap Trick and I Remember You by Skid Row
6. Honorable Mentions:  Don’t Know what You Got Til It’s Gone by Cinderella, Silent Lucidity by Queensryche, I’ll See You in My Dreams by Giant

Monster Ballads=Platinum Edition

Woo-Hoo!!  Rock on!  It’s time for a music survey.

I love all these songs.  I am nostalgic, love the 80s, and these songs bring back memories.  Fortunately, or unfortunately, not of childhood loves, but just of that period of life.

I am selecting some of my top favorites.  Feel free to add in yours if it didn’t make the survey cut.  Here is the complete list from the double CD set–Monster Ballads.