The Friends of Distinction - Grazing in the Grass

I must have heard this one on the radio recently, some bumper music or something, and it always makes me smile. That's all, no ulterior motive on this one, just a fun-ass song for a Friday.

Velvet Underground - Train Come Round The Bend

If you'll allow me to indulge in a City Song. What city? The City, if you were wondering, the one that has The Stadium in it.



Hugs!

Ted Hawkins.

I wish I could say I came across this guy while thumbing through a record bin and coming across his album. Instead, I heard one of his songs on KEXP, our local independent radio station, the other day. He's an interesting story, full of the hardship and personal tragedy worthy a blues man. I guess I'll go ahead and compare him to Sam Cooke, too, because everyone else does. All but two of the tracks on his first two albums are original compositions, which I guess surprises me for a guy who spent most of his life as a street performer. Of course, not many street performers have the talent he had.

It's not often I find a new (to me) artist that grips me the way he has. As a result, I went a little crazy with the YouTube uploads. Take your pick from these three:





And here's his take on our national health-care crisis:



All three of the above come from his 1982 debut, "Watch Your Step." I did go out and find his second album, "Happy Hour," on vinyl, which is even better than the first. But I can't for the life of me find a digital copy.

Afghan Whigs - What Jail is Like

90's?

90's!

Pixies - Here Comes Your Man

Thursday. At the Hollywood Palladium. "We won't get another chance at this, Admiral."

Organized Konfusion- Walk Into the Sun

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Mayer Hawthorne - Just Ain't Gonna Work Out