Steel Kaleidoscopes

Stacked

Remember these days?

Who I Am

Pete Townshend's autobiography, "Who I Am," hits the bookstands today.

For his writing talent alone, it's worth picking up.

Townshend's writing always settles the argument about which band was better — the Rolling Stones or the Who. Hands down, Townshend could write circles around either Mick Jagger or Keith Richards.

While admittedly the Stones produced more approachable hooks than the Who, it was the Who's unapologetic journey into the deeper themes of life — led by the prose of Townshend — that gives them the edge as the best band to come out of London.

Rock non-fiction devotees should enjoy this one.

Smoke on the Water

Ian Gillan's original lyrics, courtesy of Deep Purple's Facebook page.

The Byrds in 1965

Heady, cocky and on top of the world.

The Launch of MTV

I remember the fascination when MTV launched its programming in the summer of '81.

I was working at Coughtry's  Supply on Central Avenue in Albany, and my colleague Rick Miller and I would take our lunch break to sit in this tiny restaurant/pub to watch actual music videos.

It was the next best thing to going to a concert. And way better than listening to the radio.

There, in living color on a big-screen TV, were our music idols and a lot of musicians who weren't yet on our radar.

Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, J.J. Jackson and Martha Quinn would lead us through video after video as we watched the likes of Pat Benatar, Duran Duran and Van Halen.

We'd have a sandwich, sometimes a beer on Fridays, and watch videos on our lunch break.

 Another time and place.

WLS, Chicago - 1972

The most music, WLS Chicago. That was Climax, with "Precious and Few."

Partly sunny and mild this afternoon...

Top 10 Rush Songs

These are the Top 10 Rush songs of all-time. Having seen Rush live mostly in the mid- to late '70s, this list is skewed toward their earlier work. But it's still the definitive Top 10 list.

10. Time Stand Still
Aimee Mann vocal creates heavenly vibe

9. Red Sector A
Complex, original and brilliant 

8. Earthshine
Heavier than it comes across 

7. Lakeside Park
"Everyone would gather on the 24th of May..." 

6. Tom Sawyer
No one can avoiding playing air drums to this 

5. By-Tor and the Snowdog
Amazing how they capture studio version live 

4. Xanadu
Peart's drumming is beyond comprehension 

3. A Farewell to Kings
The most perfect sounding recording in their catalog 

2. In the End
Lee's vocals soar and use of dynamics is brilliant  

1. 2112
Their master work and the track that said, "we're for real"

Clueless

This blurb is a few weeks old but worth mentioning.

Organizers of the London Olympics reached out to the manager of The Who to ask if former drummer Keith Moon would be willing to participate in the Games' closing ceremony.

Um, Moon died in 1978.

Who's next on their list?

Elvis?

Kudos to Google

Very cool concept and design by Google on its home page today to recognize the birthday of Robert Moog, who invented the Moog synthesizer.

Prog rock wouldn't have evolved without it.

Turn your sound up and record a few bars.

Top 10 Songs with Continents or Countries in Title

Sometimes artists are inspired by a country or an entire continent. Here are the top 10 songs that reflect this thinking:

1. America - Simon & Garfunkel
Lyrically masterful; covered by many

2. China Girl - David Bowie
Remembering the days of early MTV

3. Back in the USSR - The Beatles
Roaring jet introduces the White Album

4. Panama - Van Halen
Eddie's version of the Chuck Berry duck walk 

5. Africa - Toto
Fond memories of senior year at Geneseo

6. Mexico - James Taylor
Reliable like the glove compartment flashlight 

7. Cedars of Lebanon - U2
Bono's portrait of the loneliness of war 

8. France - Frank Zappa
'Playin' in a tent is payin' the rent' 

9. Under African Skies - Paul Simon
Compelling rhythmic track from classic album

10. Ethiopia - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Funky Kiedis-led rhythmic  singalong