Welcome to the Working Week

After 1 year and 8 months of unemployment I finally found a job which I started last Thursday. Ironically enough it is for my old employer, though as a consultant and not as a direct employee. In the financial data processing field contracting is the norm these days. But I am really happy to be back at work, no matter what the circumstances. This time around there will be no programming involved in my job at all. I am strictly a Business Analyst, which in a nutshell means I get to come up with the big ideas and then leave them for others to actually execute. Not quite but in a roundabout way as, depending on the level of programming expertise, I may also be asked to write specifications for and work with the programmers who are likely in India. Business as usual all over America these days.

I spent most of Thursday and Friday on the job going over documentation about the project I will be working on and was pleasantly surprised at how much of my prior business and processing knowledge I still retained. I think I am really going to like and do well at this job and as yesterday was my 59th birthday, I can't think of a better birthday present. I'm sure the local record and CD sellers are happy as well. In my heart I always knew I was doing the right thing by going for a BA position but I must admit that there were lots of times over the last 20 months when the rest of me was seriously in doubt. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Now I need to work on the weight that grew around my belly during that time but that's a another story for another time.

Los ShaIns - El Monstruo
Back in 1965 when "The Crusher" by The Novas spent 3 weeks on the Billboard Top 100, peaking at number 88, I doubt if anyone involved thought it would be heard by fans thousands of miles away in Peru. Not only was it heard but it actually even inspired a Spanish cover version.
Groovie Ghoulies - Hello Hello
The Groovie Ghoulies of Sacramento California have a huge discography but of everything, this Partridge Family cover is easily my favorite.
Muddy Waters - Let's Spend The Night Together
I remember reading an interview with Muddy Waters when "Electric Mud" came out and he talked about how much he hated it. But to my 18 year old, stoned-out ears this song in particular was one of the best things I had ever heard. It still sounds pretty damn good to me today.
The Kinks - Days
If we're lucky we get to have that one incredible love affair that comes on like a comet and fades away just as quickly. But those few days or weeks are nothing short of pure ecstatic joy and they change us forever.
The Diplomats - Don't Bug Me
I wish I had known about this record back in my DJing days as I'm sure this would have been a surefire dancefloor filler.
Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky
This was a big AM radio hit back when I was in college for the first time and most cars were not yet equipped with FM or tape players. I can't even begin to describe how good that fuzz guitar sounded coming out of those tinny little speakers at full blast.
The Dentists - You Make Me Say It Somehow
At this point I want to publicly thank my friends Bruce P. and Scott C. who, when they were working at Venus Records on 8th Street in NYC, turned me on to these guys. They play an energizing mix of psych, pop and garage and this song is but one example of what they can conjure up. If you're interested you can read more about them and listen to some tunes on their Myspace page.
Jimmy Crockett & The Shanes - Lovin' Touch
As most 60s garage music lovers know, back in the day Australia had more than it's share of bands who, inspired by The Beatles, Stones etc. were ready willing and (sometimes) able to try for the brass ring. According to the Garage Comp Database this was their only record but it's definitely a keeper.
Sugar Pie Desanto - Go Go Power
This is a very popular and (unfortunately) quite collectible record with soul aficionados these days. Although it's been reissued a few times over the years, it's always been the stereo version. This mono rip comes from an MP3 singles compilation that I found posted somewhere in Cyberland within the last year or two.
Suzi Quatro - 48 Crash
Most people know SQ as the actress who played Leather Tuscadero on "Happy Days" but before that she recorded some of the best Glam R&R singles known to mankind. Sometime later, after she toned down her style quite a bit she had a Top 5 hit with "Stumblin' In" but it pales in comparison with this.
The Twilighters - Spellbound
From Kirksville, MO comes this organ-fueled snappy little frat rocker. After their 1:45 of greatness I'm guessing they were never heard from again outside of their immediate area where I bet they must have rocked the house come Saturday night.
Little Moose & the Hunters - Granny Rock
I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff. Upbeat novelty doo wop with a touch of falsetto. I have no idea whatsoever who these guys were but with a name like Little Moose & The Hunters I'm thinking that they weren't taking their music career all that seriously. Granny does the Rock & Roll indeed!
The Raves - Billy The Kid
Speaking of novelty doo wop, back in the late 50's records celebrating the exploits of Western heroes and outlaws were prevalent enough to almost be a sub-genre in and of themselves.
James Hunter - The Hard Way
A little blue-eyed soul in the tradition of Van Morrison and Mink DeVille. Check out his web site here.
The Pooh Sticks - On Tape
Although I never considered cassette tapes a viable substitute for owning the actual record or CD, I love this song for it's catchy hummability and indie pop name dropping.
Miles Davis - It Ain't Necessarily So
"It Ain't Necessarily So" has been recorded by hundreds of artists over the years. Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, The Moody Blues, Ella Fitzgerald and countless others have interpreted this American classic. In 4 1/2 minutes Miles Davis takes this song to some interesting places.

I'm gonna go to the place that's the best