I was listening to my whole Queen collection on the iPod in the truck last week.  This one really caught my ear — a nice pretty little song written by bassist John Deacon: And I’ve always liked this one, despite its being chock-full of mixed (no, not metaphors, but) similes: As an aside, I’m probably […]

Did y’all know that Anni-Frid Lyngstad of ABBA fame is a princess? Since 1992, when she married Prince Heinrich Ruzzo Reuss of Plauen, she has been known as Her Serene Highness Princess Anni-Frid Synni Reuss, Countess of Plauen. You’ve learned something here today. Okay, I know you’re dying for it. Here’s her hit single, which […]

The more I listen to their album, the more I realize that it’s just sick how good these guys are.

I have a handful of new CDs I’ve been working through. Finally getting Deep Purple’s Perfect Strangers was a great look back at the mid-’80s reunion of the Machine Head band lineup.  Rolling Stone rated it two stars out of five back when it came out, so you know it’s really very good.  The title song […]

The news that Gerry Rafferty had died came just days after a guy I knew killed himself. So I was already pondering the demons that drive people to such desperation.  Reading that Rafferty had fought depression and alcoholism and suffered from severe liver damage added on more lost soul to the tally. None of that changes […]

Great group, great song — not particularly good-looking fellas, though.

Ah, this stuff brings back memories… In their earliest commercial lineup, Asia comprised John Wetton of King Crimson, Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Steve Howe of Yes, and Geoff Downes of The Buggles and “neo-Yes”  — a progressive rock dream team. It was short-lived dream.  But a dream nonetheless…

I like these guys.

Ah, the good side of the ’80s! Enjoy!