Countdown to Christmas Eve

Since both of these happen to be two of my favorite albums of all time, you have a choice for O.

O is for: Orleans, Waking and Dreaming (Asylum, 1976)

This album is "Still the One that makes me smile." (Honk!) Shhhh, nobody speak. Take a sec and stare at that album cover in silence.

and O is also for: Oak Ridge Boys, Bobbie Sue (MCA, 1982)

From sweaty, shirtless Orleans to a celebration of sweaters with the Oak Ridge Boys. On this 1982 beauty, they thought it a good idea to cover The Band's Up On Cripple Creek. And in 1986, Levon Helm tried to stab Duane Allen outside of The Honey Hole in Franklin, Tennessee for murdering his song. (You may wanna fact check that, I'm just telling you what I heard).

Faithful readers will remember our July conversations about these albums, and therefore probably never had any doubt about what the letter "O" would be. I know this is cheap and selfish, but would somebody please get copies of these for me for Christmas so I can frame them and put them on my wall?

Record Collection Recollections

Looking through my vinyl collection and I thought I would share the most notable specimens. I own most of what I own (including my record player) thanks to the lovely Lisa and the Forces' own T nutz, who brought up his collection for my listening pleasure. Now we are really entering the deepest realm of the labyrinth of shit that nobody cares about:

First, a few of the good and classic in no particular order:
Beck-Sea Change, The Police-Zenyatta Mondatta, Elvis Costello and The Attractions-The Best of..., Panda Bear-Person Pitch, Johnny Cash-Live at San Quentin, The Beach Boys-Endless Summer, Deerhunter-Cryptograms/Flourescent Grey EP, Queen-A Night at the Opera, Primus-Suck on This and Pork Soda, The Ventures-Hawaii Five-O, Jim O'Rourke-Eureka, The Flame-Fallout, The Beatles-1962-1966, Pink Floyd-The Wall, Wish You Were Here, Dark Side of the Moon, and Animals.

Some jazz:
John Coltrane Quartet-Ballads, Various Artists-Brazil's Super Hits, Chet Atkins-Lover's Guitar, Ahmad Jamal Trio-Live at The Pershing (But Not For Me), Dean Martin-I'm the One Who Loves You, Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim-Self-titled, The Dave Brubeck Quartet-Time Out.

There is also a mountain of classical music that I will not share with the reader, instead choosing to leave to said reader's imagination, which is quite vivid.

I will however, share with you the 3 most ridiculous records we have which no one would ever buy back, but we will never sell:
Oak Ridge Boys-Bobbie Sue. Hunter bought this solely because the album cover photo is one of the funniest things thine eyes ever seen. Artwise, right up there with Orleans-Still the One LP, which I do not own as of yet but am tirelessly striving to find.
Fat Boys-The Fat Boys are Back. Honestly, I don't really feel too good about myself having a laugh at Kurtis Blow's expense. (Kurtis Blow=a.k.a "The Chief of the East" a.k.a. "The Ox That Rocks" a.k.a. "Doc Nice" a.k.a. "The Prince of Rap"). I actually love this album and play it often.
Don Ellis-At Fillmore. Shitty horns.

Also, here's the bulk of my 8-track collection, which is a work in progress:
Led Zeppelin-Led Zeppelin (or I, or whatever they call it), Frank Sinatra-Just One Of Those Things, The Beatles-Abbey Road, Tony Bennett-The Good Things in Life, George Harrison-All Things Must Pass (Cartridge 2), and Kenny Rogers-Greatest Hits.