Happy Birthday Elvis Presley

Today, January 8th 2010, is the 75th birthday of the King of Rock N' Roll, the one and only Elvis Presley.  Elvis was born Elvis Aaron Presley on January 8th 1935 to Vernon Elvis and Gladys Love Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi.  35 minutes earlier, Elvis' twin brother was stillborn.  In his early teens the family moved to Memphis, TN. where Elvis would start playing guitar and singing although he was generally too shy to perform in front of too many people.  By his senior year Elvis was walking Beale Street trying to catch live rhythm and blues and country acts playing in the lounges and bars.

From his beginnings in the music industry Elvis was said to have been able to capture the sound of a black man.  His voice and music were reminiscent of that same rhythm and blues he had sought after walking in Memphis.  It wasn't a mistake that all his Grammy's came from gospel songs.  

He was treated like every other working american and joined the army.  Stationed in Germany he turned on to amphetamines.  He would later succumb to this vice, the thought that every one of his problems could be fixed with medicines.  

The King starred in movies galore accompanied by soundtracks, mostly by the recommendation of his manager.  He was laughed at but grew into a different Elvis that came back in 1968.  At one point he said he would never sing another song he didn't believe in.

As we celebrate his 75th birthday today lets remember the songs he did believe in.  Lets remember the man that changed the world of music.  Lets remember the man the FBI couldn't change.  Lets remember Elvis Presley, The King of Rock N' Roll.

Smashing Pumpkins new free album

This week I heard on Detroit's new rock radio station, 93.9 The River, that the Smashing Pumpkins were releasing a new record called Teargarden by Kaleidyscope.  The album is to be released one track at a time on their website, www.smashingpumpkins.com, where you can listen to and download each song.  

Today I visited their site and downloaded "A Song for a Son" which I think is the first song they have released.  The song sounds like a mix of Wilco type music and Pumpkins type lyrics and or course the unmistakable voice of Billy Corgan.  It may be that the music sounds different because Corgan is the only original member of the iconic alternative rock band that formed in 1988.  Guitarist James Iha, bassist D'arcy Wretzky, and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain have all, at some point in time and for various reasons, left the band.  I think D'arcy may have even committed suicide?  

"Astral Planes" will be the second track released on their website but you can catch a live version of it at the Smashing Pimpkins myspace page.  It's a heavier track that "A Song for a Son" and sounds more like their old garagey/punk stuff.  I think the woman's voice backing Corgan up belong to Reyes (bass).  It's interesting that all their bass players have been female.  I wonder if Corgan does this on purpose.

The new line up, as presented on the bands myspace page, is Billy Corgan on lead vocals and guitar, Ginger Reyes on bass, Mike Byrne on drums and Jeff Schroeder on guitar.  Although I wasn't a huge fan of the Smashing Pimpkins back in the day, I did love "Today" and the whole Meloncholy and the Infinite Sadness double disc.  I am eagerly awaiting the rest of Teargarden by Kaleidyscope as it is released and would definitely go see this new line up in concert.  I think Corgan, although he is a notorious control freak in the studio, is a musical master of creativity.

Break is over... no BB guns

Welcome back all to regular life.  Hopefully you all got your fair share of Christmas food like ham, turkey, duck or ... Alaskan King Crab legs.  I know I did.  But there was one thing that I didn't get to do this holiday season and that is watch the Christmas Story movie marathon that is usually on during the couple days before Christmas.

  

Not that it ruined my holiday but I was a little disappointed that Ralphie, Randy, Schwartz and Flick weren't around to usher in my Christmas morning.  I also missed the classic bully fight against Stuc Farkas and Grover Dill.  I don't know if the marathon was on and I just missed it or if the Bumpus' dogs got into the TV studio and pulled the plug on the marathon.  Either way it wasn't Christmas without seeing Ralphie in a pink bunny costume and finally get his Red Ryder BB gun.  But oh well... he probably would have shot his eye out.

There is a lot of info on the movie at this Wikipedia site which I will no doubt read later but here it is for you.  For the official cast check out the imdb site for the movie here.