Tag Archives: johnnycash

Random Record Recap

Random Record Night: September 29 Recap

I hadn’t listened to any music since late August, so of course I go ahead and have Random Record Night two nights in a row. SORRY BABY.

Usually I’m brewing beer or cooking something while I do this. (Who wants to just sit and listen to music? BORING.) Last night, I was just making some pizza dough and fresh-picked-basil pesto. No actual cooking, but SO MUCH MIXING.

Anyway, here’s what the records were like:

Sesame Street Story TimeSesame Street Story Time

Don’t fuck with the King. He will teach you not one, not two, not three, but FOUR ways to be a good and moral and decent human being. I listened to this and I heard it.

Bob Dylan, John Wesley HardingBob Dylan, John Wesley Harding

Even though I’m a little too familiar with Bob Dylan, I’m not so familiar with this album. For whatever reason it’s one that I just neglect. Lots of good songs, though. “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” is always one I like to hear. It also has “All Along the Watchtower.” However, I don’t like this song. I think it’s because it’s one of those tunes where everyone will say things like, “Oh yeah, I like Bob Dylan. ‘All Along the Watchtower’ is SOOOO GOOOOD. Have you heard [insert other musicians name]’s version. It’s THE BEST.” Or, I think that happens. Does it? I bet it probably does. I usually have a hard time listening to what other people say, so I’m not sure if that’s ever been said, though.

Johnny Cash at San QuentinJohnny Cash at San Quentin

Do musicians still go into prisons and perform for the inmates? They should. This record is why. Also, there’s no one in the world who doesn’t like Johnny Cash. HE’S LOVABLE.

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Three Blind MiceArt Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Three Blind Mice

This is how I like to end a night. The cover art is kind of stupid, but I enjoy looking at it anyway. Looks like Art has RED LASERS shooting out of his face.

Random Record Recap

Random Record Night: July 28 Recap

These records, from Random Record Night, made me feel this way:

Wanda Jackson, Sings Country SongsWanda Jackson, Sings Country Songs

Another Wanda Jackson album. This one of really nice and sweet and sorrowful country tunes. It’ll make you break your heart and it’ll give you strength to stand. It’s melodramatic and it’s so great. I was cooking a vegetarian korma when I was listening, which means, when my gal asked me, “Do you like this record?” I respond in some way like this: “Oh, geez, I have no idea…yes? Yes. Well, I’m not really listening. I hear it. I hear all the sounds, and I know what it’s about, but I don’t know any of the words.” That kind of sums up how I listen to any song of music. Or any sound. Or any person talking. I don’t really know how to pay attention, I guess. Anyway, check out Wanda’s hair. And check out those geese she’s sitting near. I wonder, if at any point during the photo shoot, those geese just chased Wanda all over the place. I wonder what she sounds like running from geese. Does she have a playful smile? What does she do with her hands? I wonder if her hair stays in place.

Johnny Cash, Ride This TrainJohnny Cash, Ride This Train

This is a really great album. I love it. Everyone should listen to it because it’s really a great and true Johnny Cash album. The End.

Biff Rose, Children of LightBiff Rose, Children of Light

I started this record off and I thought to myself, “Hey, Self, you like this Biff Rose record, don’t you?” And then all the songs started to sound exactly the same. And even though it wasn’t supposed to be a big joke of an album, (you know who Biff Rose is, right?) it kind of has that feel of someone making a big joke, but attempting to make it also be serious while sounding funny and serious at the same time. So, this one turned into a big drag for me. I just let it slip right through my mind.

James Baldwin, Black Man in America, Credo 1James Baldwin, Black Man in America, Credo 1

And then there’s this. It’s a radio interview that Studs Terkel did with James Baldwin. I’ve listened to it several times before. There’s so many secrets in it. So many. It just spins and spins and spins. Goes around and around in your head until you think to yourself, “Hey, now what? What are these two fellas talking about? Hmm, I…well, okay…I think I understand it.” Then you go to bed and don’t sleep AT ALL. It confuses me and that’s why I keep listening to it. It’s why I read the same books over and over. It’s why I get stuck on listening to one song from beginning to end, beginning to end, again and again and again. It never gets old to me cause there’s always something I just don’t know. Something I couldn’t pay attention to the first time. Something I know I’m missing. Something I’ll never understand.