Marin Mazzie, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and cast- Ragtime

Garth Drabinsky was born in Toronto, Canada.
He graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1973.
He produced several films in the late '70s and early '80s and in 1979 he helped co-found Cineplex Odeon, the predecessor of Cineplex Entertainment, the largest Canadian operator of movie theaters.
In 1995, he was made an Officer in the Order of Canada, an honour for merit that is the highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council in the Canadian system of honours.
He also operated Livent, the publicly traded theater company.
Livent acquired the Lyric and Apollo theaters in New York City and remodeled them into the Ford Center of Performing Arts, later renamed the Hilton Theater.
Drabinsky's productions won 19 Tony Awards.
However, some productions were too lavish and the company was losing money.  In 1997 alone they lost over $40 million.
In November of 1998, Drabinsky sought bankruptcy protection in the US, claiming a debt of $334 million.
After investigations by both US and Canadian securities regulators, Drabinsky and his partner, Myron Gottlieb were found guilty of fraud and forgery for misstating the company's financial records.
On August 5, 2009, Garth Drabinsky was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in the half billion dollar fraud at Livent.
"Ragtime" was the inaugural Livent production in the Ford Center.
It had a long run but was financially unsuccessful.
Some Broadway insiders consider its lavish production to have been the financial "undoing" of Livent.

Loreena McKennitt- The Mummers' Dance

When somebody is doing what they love, does it matter if anyone else appreciates it?
When that somebody works hard and perseveres, shouldn't others pay attention?
Especially when that somebody takes their work so seriously?
Well, people have started to notice Loreena McKennitt.
It's OK that you don't know who Loreena McKennitt is (yet).
She's still sold 13 million albums worldwide.
But in case you wanted to know, she is a Canadian singer, composer, harpist, accordionist and pianist who writes, records and performs "world music", mostly with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes.
At a young age, she fell in love with Celtic music.  After she learned to play the Celtic harp, she performed in public places for tips in order to earn enough money to publish her first album.
It was recorded in a studio in a barn.
Her popularity slowly rose in the late 1980's and early 1990's until she won two Juno awards in Canada for her 1991 and 1994 studio releases.  These albums have been certified Gold in the US.
Before McKennitt composes any music, she engages in considerable research on a specific subject which then forms the general concept of the album.  This often involves travel to such places as Ireland, Spain, and The Silk Road of Asia.
She frequently uses literary works as sources of lyrics or as a springboard for interpretation.
This song comes from her 1997 release "The Book of Secrets".
It was the theme song for the TV series "Legacy" (it only lasted one year...not much of a legacy), and was included on the trailer for the Drew Barrymore film "Ever After".

Great Smoky Mountain Bird and Creek Sounds

I went to see my Granny today.
I usually see her every Tuesday morning.
About 2 years ago, I started driving south about an hour every Tuesday morning so I could adjust my Mom and Dad.  I'm only in the office for about an hour.  Then it's back to Woodstock for my afternoon shift.
Since then, my aunt and uncle, an old patient that I had from the five years that I practiced in McDonough, and several friends have been coming in on a regular basis to get chiropractic care.
I usually bring one of my kids with me.  They look forward to seeing Nana and Pops, and then going to IHOP with Daddy afterwards.
Shortly after I began going down, my Granny started coming to see me.
She has had chiropractic care for much of her life off and on.
Now she's coming to see her grandson.
I remember when we were younger, we used to go camping alot.  We would go to High Falls, Hard Labor Creek, and Myrtle Beach.  But some of my most vivid memories with Granny is camping in the Smoky Mountains.  We would cookout, go tubing in the creek, go to Ghost Town, and lots of other fun things.
She was always right there with us participating in those activities.
She turned 89 this past January.
Now she needs help to stand up and she has to have someone with her all the time.
Her mind isn't quite what it used to be either.
Today, I spent a little extra time on her.  I know she won't be with us much longer.
After I was done, she said, "I sure do thank you."
No, Granny.  I thank you.

Los Lonely Boys- Heaven

Sometimes when I pray, it's like I'm in a very tight rubber room and the words just keep bouncing around inside the room until I give up.
At other times, it seems like the words get lost as quickly as they are formed and evaporate into thin air.
But every once in a while, there is a tangible connectiveness in which the words actually feel like they are drawn out of you.  In those moments, you feel as if you have direct access to the eternal mind of the Creator.
There have been times that I have prayed for something and forgotten about it.  Then years later you see or hear something, and you think "God did hear me", because the very thing you asked for is right there.
I posted a few weeks back about a friend of mine that had gotten mixed up with meth.
I had learned that he was in rehab and wrote him again.
This time...I got a reply.
"I am doing fine here, learning how to break the chains of addiction through Jesus Christ and building a closer relationship with him. For this is where I can't go wrong."
This is going to be a long road.   But I have learned over the last 40 years that life is about one thing:
relationships.
We're all busy.  But at the end of the day, it's people that matter.
I keep praying that God will continue his work of healing.
And I've got the feeling that He's listening.

Chris Botti with Sting- Seven Days

If I were to ask who is the largest selling American jazz instrumentalist, your answer would be...?
You peeked at the title.
Yes, Chris Botti.
Some people are just made to play.  Chris is one of those.
When he was 12 years old, he heard Miles Davis play "My Funny Valentine".
He then realized that playing the trumpet was his key to "doing something meaningful with my life".
At 17 he enrolled in Mount Hood Community College in his home state of Oregon, and finished out his senior credits there.  He constructed this scenario so that he could play at Portland clubs in the evenings.
After graduating from high school, Botti studied under jazz educator David Baker and trumpet professor Bill Adam at Indiana University. Botti was also the recipient of two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts which allowed him to study with trumpeter Woody Shaw and saxophonist George Coleman during two consecutive summer breaks.
He left Indiana University during his senior year so he could do a short touring stint with Frank Sinatra.
I think I would have, too.
In the 1990's, he began most of his touring and recording.
During that period, he also performed/recorded with Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Natalie Merchant, Scritti Politti, Roger Daltrey and others, including Sting.
This is from a performance at the historic Boston Symphony Hall with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops on September 18 and 19, 2008. The show includes guest appearances from Josh Groban, Yo-Yo Ma, John Mayer, Katharine McPhee, Sting, Lucia Micarelli and Steven Tyler.
What a lineup.

Louis Prima- Oh Marie

Have you ever seemingly been the last person on Earth to see a movie?
A few years ago, about 5 to be exact, Bekah and I went on a cruise with some friends from church. 
Well, Be-Bop went with us because she had just been hatched.  Plus, she looked so cute with the flamingoes in the Bahamas.
For most of the trip, the guys that we went with were reciting lines from "Napolean Dynamite".
At the time, I don't think I had ever heard of the film, but they had obviously enjoyed it immensely, because that is just about the extent of the conversation that weekend...
...that and the repeating of the phrase, "Git-r-done", another phenomena that I was late on.
So guess what Bekah and I did as soon as we got back home?
We rented "Napolean Dynamite" (and got a copy of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour).
As I am writing this, I am finishing a box of tots.  I've got mad skills at this blogging thing.  Git-r-done.
So I thought I was caught up.
Yesterday, I read about a 1996 film starring Tony Shalhoub from "Wings" and "Monk", Stanley Tucci from lots of things, Marc Anthony, and Minnie Driver.
It's called "Big Night".
Set in the 1950's in a small town on the Jersey Shore, it tells of two immigrant brothers from Italy who own and operate a restaurant called "Paradise".
As their restaurant is failing, one of the brothers goes to a successful competitor (one, whose wife he happens to be having an affair with), and asks for a loan.  Instead, the competitor says that when the great Italian-American trumpeter, Louis Prima, comes to town, he will arrange for him to visit their restaurant.  Surely his patronage will revitalize their business.
The brothers frantically prepare for the "big night", inviting dozens of people to dine for free, and spending what little they have left in preparation of an extravagant feast.
The film won several awards when it was released.
This particular tune is included on the soundtrack.
Louis Prima, incidentally, went on to voice the raucous orangutan King Louie in the Disney animated film "The Jungle Book".
That one I've seen.

Tool- "Track #1" from Aenima

My oldest kids are into Michael Jackson now.  They are 9 and 7.
I'm not exactly sure how this happened.
I think it's probably Jared's fault.
Jared is a kid that was in C-Bo's 3rd grade class last year.
My suspicion stems from a lunch visit that I made during the school year in which I sat next to my son and Jared and throughout the whole meal Jared lamented, "I can't believe the King of Pop is dead."
Not that I'm upset about it.
I enjoyed MJ's music.  And it's not like they're going over to Neverland for a sleepover.
But I digress...
So now they like to watch Michael Jackson videos on YouTube...
which is fine for the most part. 
Good tunes, good moves.
Except "Thriller".
Now P-Diddy (my number 2 son) sometimes has a hard time getting to sleep because of the images of the zombies on "Thriller".
So we have to remind him to think about silly stuff like "Spongebob" to get to sleep.
I'm still not sure how that helps.
We caution them not to click on anything but those videos that their Mom and I have  pre-approved as acceptable viewing.  So...
Today, I wanted to do a post on the band "Tool".
"Tool" is a Grammy award winning alternative metal band. Due to their incorporation of visual arts and relatively long and complex releases, the band is generally described as a style-transcending act and part of progressive and art rock.  Their 1996 album, Aenima went triple platinum.
This particular song is the first track on the album.
After watching the video, I think I'll be humming the Spongebob theme song before I can go to sleep tonight.

The Blind Boys of Alabama with Lou Reed- Jesus

I went with the family to Tybee Island this past weekend.  It's a fairly quiet stretch of sand just outside of Savannah and the closest beach to our north Atlanta home.
When we left, I was 39.
When we returned, I was 40.
No big deal really, right.
The day before we left, I had a physical with an MD to "take inventory" and make sure everything was mostly functional.  I hadn't seen an MD in about 10 years.
Apparently, when you reach a certain age, there are a couple of tests that are done, specifically for..ahem..."the lower tract", that are customary to be performed.  Wasn't quite prepared for this.
Thankfully, it was quick.
So, I'm 40.  About a third of life used up.
I'm rounding, folks, play along.
Who am I?  What is my place?
1) When I was 7 years old, I realized that I was kind of a mess-up.  I asked for help.  I traded an imperfect life for a forgiven life, thanks to the substitutionary death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Along the way since then, there are times when I have tried to retake control and go my own way, but the voice of the eternal Spirit of God gently reminds be that "no matter what", He has my best interests in mind.  So first and foremost I am a redeemed child of the Creator, living in the grace given by Jesus.
2)  When I was 26 years old, I met the love of my life.  I thought I knew what "true love" was before that day, but I was silly and mistaken.
 May 11, 1996 was our first date.
November 8, 1997 was the date we were joined together as one person.
I couldn't imagine life without her.  So secondly, I am a husband, dedicated to loving, protecting, and caring for my bride.
3-6)  When I was 30, 32, 34, and 36, the wonderful gift of life was placed in my responsibility and care.  Sometimes I think that I am still too immature and incapable of handling such an important task, but then I see number 1 above, again, and realize that I am the perfect person for the job.  3 princes and 1 princess.
So thirdly through sixthly, I am a father, responsible for the health, well-being, safety and security of these 4 children.
7)  When I was 22 years old, I started a journey that has been a difficult but very rewarding road. 
I started school to become a chiropractor.  I had finished my 2 years of undergraduate school and had 3 and a half years of grad school left.  It was so worth it.  I can't think of anything else that I would rather be doing as a profession.  Sometimes the stresses of being a business owner get to you, but for me, it far outweighs associateship.  So seventhly (I think I'm making these words up, now) I am a chiropractor, dedicated to providing the best conservative natural healthcare to my patients. 
8) Finally, I AM FORTY.  All of this other stuff takes up a lot of my time, and that's OK.  I am blessed to be able physically and mentally to handle these "places".  When I have some time to myself, I like to listen to my music, read, try new restaurants, and visit new places.
There's alot to see in this world.
And, heck, I've only got about 80 more years to get it all done.

The Wailin' Jennys- Motherless Child

Before Deion Sanders.
Before Bo Jackson.
Before Michael Jordan.
There was Jim Thorpe.
Jim Thorpe was a Native American that is considered to be one of the most versatile athletes in modern sports. 
He won Olympic gold medals in the 1912 pentahalon and decathalon.
He played American football (here we just call it football) at the collegiate and professional levels.
He played professional basketball and professional baseball.
In 1912, in a college football game against Army, Thorpe led his team to a 27-6 victory over Army.
During that game, future President Dwight Eisenhower injured his knee trying to tackle Thorpe.
Eisenhower recalled of Thorpe in a 1961 speech, "Here and there, there are some people who are supremely endowed. My memory goes back to Jim Thorpe. He never practiced in his life, and he could do anything better than any other football player I ever saw."
Unfortunately, he ended his athletic career during the Great Depression.
He found it difficult to work outside sports and never kept a job for an extended period of time.
By the 1950's, Thorpe had no money left.  When he was hospitilized for lip cancer in 1950, he was admitted as a charity case.
He died in 1953 of a heart attack.
When Thorpe's third wife, Patricia, heard that the small Pennsylvania towns of Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk were desperately seeking to attract business, she struck a deal with the towns. Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk bought Thorpe's remains, erected a monument to him, merged and renamed the newly united town in his honor, Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, despite the fact that Thorpe had never set foot there.
The Wailin' Jennys are a Juno award winning Canadian folk trio.  Their name is a pun on the country singer, Waylon Jennings.
They indeed, have been to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania.  They recorded "Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House" in 2008.
In the words of a Village Records review of the album, "I’m sure it’s a revered and wonderful building, but how does the name of an opera house end up with the word chunk in it?"

The Postal Service- Such Great Heights

Not everyone has benefitted in the information age.
Mr. B is a patient of mine.
He came in yesterday exhasuted.  He worked 12 hours the day before.
Mr. B is a postal carrier.
"There's less mail overall but we still have to stop at every  house and every business.  They've cut the number of workers, so we have to do more routes."
The USPS has eliminated 40,000 full-time positions in the last several years. 
They predict a $7 million shortfall for 2011.
Mr. B says, "People are just not sending as much mail anymore.  They're using email."
Mr. B has 5 years until he can retire at age 62.
Until then, we'll try and keep him going.
Did I mention that the USPS is run by the government?
On the other hand, the electronic indie-pop band "The Postal Service" is doing just fine.
Their 2003 debut went platinum, and this particular song was featured in many commercials including UPS (which I find humorous), most with their permission (sorry, Apple).
It has also been covered at least 17 times.
The band's name was chosen due to the way in which they produced songs.  Electronic music guru Jimmy Tamborello AKA Dntel, wrote and performed the instrumental tracks, then sent the Digital Audio Tapes to Ben Gibbard (also lead vocalist for Death Cab For Cutie) who edited the song as he saw fit, adding his vocals in.
He then sent them back to Tamborello via the United States Postal Service.

Alison Krauss & Union Station- When You Say Nothing At All

The year is 1988.
Songwriters Paul Overstreet and John Schlitz had spent the day together trying to write their next song. 
It hadn't been very productive.
At the end of the day, while trying to come up with "another way to say nothing" (sounds like a Seinfeld episode), they birthed this song.  They thought it was "nothing special".
Country singer Keith Whitley heard the song and fell in love with it.  He had recorded another Overstreet/Schlitz composition, "On the Other Hand", which later became a number one hit for Randy Travis.
He thought this one might be a chart topper for himself.
He was right.
It entered the Country Singles chart in September of 1989 at number 61, and gradually rose to the top, where it stayed for two weeks at the end of that year.
It was the second of five consecutive chart-topping singles for Whitley, who did not live to see the last two, as he died on May 9, 1989 of alcohol poisoning.
In 1994, Alison Krauss recorded the song for a tribute album for Whitley.  The Krauss version peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
Krauss' recording won the 1995 CMA award for "Single of the Year".
More importantly, it is my wife's favorite Alison Krauss song.

The Eagles- Hotel California

I've heard this song perhaps a million times in my life.
However, for some reason, it reminds me of one specific time in my life.
After high school, I took a job at Dobbs International Services, the company that used to cater most of Delta's flights out of Atlanta.
At the same time, I attended Clayton State College part-time to work on my core classes, because I still wasn't sure what I wanted to be when I grew up.
I did this for about 4 years.
Then in a "revelation", I realized that Chiropractic was my destiny.
I quit my job and increased my course load to get the basics out of the way so that I could begin at Life University as soon as possible.
A friend of mine, Clint A.K.A. Juice,  was Assistant Manager at the local Champs Sporting Goods, but was days away from being transferred to a different location.
He was able to get me a part-time job before he left, so I was able to make a little "kicking around" money while I was in school full time.
In retail, there is what as known as "The Big 6".  It is the six weeks leading up to Christmas-the busiest time of the year.  This usually means longer hours and more to do after work.
One night at quitting time after a busy day, all the guys decided to go over to Pizza Hut.
It was late and we were the only ones in the restaurant.
While we were waiting on our pizza, someone put money in the jukebox.
When "Hotel California" came on, we all got up and were singing and dancing all around the place.
It was one of those spontaneous energy releases that left it's mark on my brain.
This is from the "Hell Freezes Over" reunion.

Wolfgang Mozart- Flute Concerto No. 2 in D Major, K 314 Allegro

When I was in college, we used to hang out at a club off of North Ave. in Atlanta called The Masquerade.
The Masquerade consisted of 3 clubs in one- Heaven, a venue for live music was upstairs; Hell, a dark, dungeon-like dance club downstairs that pumped mostly techno music; and Purgatory was in the middle, with pool tables and video games and places to sit and talk where you could mostly hear each other.
We spent 4-5 nights there in many a week, many times until near closing.
My friend, Tony actually got a job there.
Needless to say, we saw some interesting characters there.
I remember that the first night we ever went we saw a band called "The Impotent Sea Snakes".
I can't discuss their act without having to feel like I need to wash something.
There were many pierced, hair-dyed, hair-shaven, etc. folks that would frequent said establishment.
But they were always greeted by "The Flute Man".
The Flute Man was a dread-locked, middle-aged, seemingly always high African American gentleman.
He would play his homemade flute for "spare change" while sitting on the wall as people entered the club.
He also sold some of his flutes. 
One night, my friend Rob decided to buy a flute on the way out of the club.
On the way to the car, he soon found out that even homemade flute playing requires a certain degree of talent.
I think I remember having to restrain him from going back and cracking the flute over Flute Man's head.

Michael W. Smith- Breathe

This is not what I intended to say.
My first intention was to present a dissertation discussing "The Dumbing Down of Church Music".
I was going to discuss how boring church music has become, with nearly every song being a repetition of the same 20 words for 5 minutes.
The question was going to be, "Doesn't God hear me the first time?  Why do I have to repeat it 23 times?"
I was going to go into the fact that the Bible urges us in our worship to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, not just "Praise Choruses".
But I can't do it.
Don't get me wrong.
I still believe that a little variety would do the church a favor.
But I won't be critical here today.
When I went to get the video for this song, I noticed some of the comments.
This song and songs of this nature obviously have made a HUGE difference in people's lives and their walk with God.
Who am I to criticize what God is using to change lives?
I give up.  I was wrong.

Barney- I Love You

I know.  I know.  I apologize already.
Some would argue that this is not even music.  Stay with me.
I love summer.  Everything about it.
I love the relaxed schedules. 
I love the longer days.
Heck, I even love the heat (it was 98 degrees here yesterday).
But what I like most this year about summer is...Thursdays.
That's right, Thursdays.
I decided back in May that while the kids were out of school for summer break, I would take a day off in the middle of the week and we would do some fun things close to home.
The first week, I took the older two kids bowling while Mommy took the younger two to the Merry-Go-Round and indoor playground at a local mall.
The second week, Mommy had an appointment to get her passport, so I took all of them to Monkey Joes for the day and then later we all went to the swimming pool in our neighborhood.
The following weeks took us to Chattanooga to visit the Tennessee Aquarium and Ruby Falls (and Cheeburger Cheeburger), to Stone Mountain, to Tanglewood Farms (a local farm with miniature farm animals), and yesterday, to the alpine village of Helen in North Georgia where we went tubing down the Chattahoochee River (along with our new dog, Angel).
We've enjoyed other days (like Movie Night Wednesdays complete with candy, where we take turns choosing a movie to watch at home together), but Thursday has been the day I look most forward to this summer.
The way I figure it, they're only gonna be young once, and once they're gone, it'll be too late.
You know, seize the day or something.
So I'm gonna go grab a tissue now and let's all hold hands and sing along with the big purple dinosaur that everybody loves to hate.

Kristin Chenoweth- A House Is Not A Home

Five years ago today, the remains of R&B and soul singer-songwriter and producer, Luther Vandross, were laid to rest in George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey. 
It's hard to believe that it's been five years.  Luther epitomized "soul crooning" for me.
Thankfully, I had the opportunity to see him live a couple of times in the early 90's.
During his career, he sold over 25 million albums and won eight Grammy awards.
Luther suffered with diabetes and hypertension, both of which ran in his family.  In 2003,  he suffered a stroke in his Manhattan home.  He had just finished the final vocals for his upcoming release, "Dance With My Father", which he collaborated on with longtime friend and fellow recording artist Richard Marx.
This turned out to be his biggest selling studio release yet. 
He appeared briefly on videotape at the 2004 Grammys to accept his Song of the Year award, where he said, "Whenever I say goodbye it's never for long because I believe in the power of love".
He died of a heart attack the following July.
This song is one of my favorites of his.  Burt Bacharach originally wrote the song for Dionne Warwick in 1964.
Earlier this year, the Broadway revival of "Promises, Promises" opened in the Broadway Theatre.
Originally not a part of the production, "A House Is Not A Home" was added for Kristin Chenoweth to sing.

Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood- Had To Cry Today

There are a few special performers that make me want to learn to play the guitar.
James Taylor, for when I just want to chill.
Ottmar Liebert, for when I want to seranade my sweetie.
And...Eric Clapton for when I want to sing the blues.
Clapton makes it seem so easy.  And you can tell he's enjoying himself.
He's consistently ranked in the top 5 in lists of the "greatest guitarists ever."
He's also the only artist that has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 3 times- once as a solo performer, and as a member of Cream, and as a member of The Yardbirds.
On a side note, you know how you listen to some vocalists and say to yourself, "They just don't quite have it anymore."
Steve Winwood still has it.
This is from their "Live From Madison Square Gardens" release.

Nirvana- Where Did You Sleep Last Night?

Huddie Ledbetter aka Leadbelly was one of the most underrated folk and blues musicians in American history.  He was the self-proclaimed "King of the 12-String Guitar".
He lived a very interesting personal life.  He was imprisoned several times, once for killing one of his relatives in a fight over a woman. 
Once he escaped.  During his second sentence, he received a pardon after serving seven years by writing a song to the governor appealing for his release.  Apparently, he swayed Gov. Neff by appealing to his strong religious beliefs.  That, in combination with good behavior (including entertaining by playing for the guards and fellow prisoners), was Leadbelly's ticket out of jail.  Five years later, he was back in prison for attempted homicide.  It was there, three years later, that he was discovered by musicologists John and Alan Lomax, which led to the Library of Congress recordings.
He later went on to record a children's album entitled "Lead Belly Sings For Children".
Kurt Cobain called Leadbelly his favorite performer.
This song has been most heavily associated with Leadbelly, probably because he recorded several versions in the 1940's, but it traditionally dates back to the 1870's.
Cobain most likely based his interpretation on an original 1944 78 rpm recording that fellow Seattle grunger, Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees), had.
The vocals, from the 3 minute mark on, give me chills every time I hear it.

Bob Marley and The Wailers- No Woman, No Cry

You know how certain songs or albums remind you of certain people and/or certain times in your life?
There's a guy from high school that introduced me to 4 different albums at 4 different times in my life that have made a lasting impression.
The first one was Prince's "Sign O' The Times".   Remember, "Housequake". ("Shut up already...damn.")  The last track on that double album, "Adore", rewrote what a love song was to me.  ("If God one day struck me blind, your beauty I'd still see.")
The next album was "NWA and the Posse" by um...well...NWA and the Posse.  Songs like "Boyz in the Hood", "8-Ball", "Dopeman", and "Panic Zone" were steady being pushed out of my house speakers that I had placed in the hatchback of my red 1980 Mustang. 
I was so cool. (My wife is rolling her eyes now.)
The third album was Robin Harris' "Be-Be's Kids".  Not for sensitive ears, this comedy album almost made me wet my britches.  ("What tha ___ is spare change?  Find your ___ a spare job!")
The last one is Bob Marley and the Wailer's post-humous greatest hits compilation, "Legend".
To most people, Bob Marley = Reggae.  There's a good reason.  "Legend" is the best-selling reggae album of all time, selling 25 million copies worldwide.
This is my favorite track, although they all are pretty awesome.
Thank you, Shane, for introducing me to new sounds.  Some are still favorites today.
I just wish I knew where in the heck you are these days.

Soggy Bottom Boys- I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow

1987-Raizing Arizona
1991- Barton Fink
1996-Fargo
1998-The Big Lebowski
Then...
In 2000, the Coen Brothers released a film set in 1937 rural Mississippi during the Great Depression.
It was a modern satire loosely based on Homer's "Odyssey" starring George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, and Holly Hunter.
Personally, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" is my favorite of the "two-headed director", Joel and Ethan Coen.
The soundtrack for the film was produced by T-Bone Burnett and features bluegrass, gospel, blues, and country music.
It won a Grammy in 2002 for Album of the Year.
Since then, the Coens have directed 6 more films including the creepy "No Country For Old Men" and the hilarious "Burn After Reading".
Later this year, they will release "True Grit", a western starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and Hailee Steinfeld.
We'll have to wait and see if we get another award winning soundtrack.
Until then, here's an old favorite of mine. 
Happy 4th of July.  I'll be back Monday.

The Script- Breakeven

I love great lyrics.
Great lyrics should create an emotional response.  Music does sometimes, but great lyrics should always.
Put them both together with a great voice and you've got something memorable.
That's what The Script has in this song.
To be able to feel the heart-wrenching, kicked-in-the-gut feeling of a tough breakup.
The kind where you're walking around in a fog and you can't breathe.
That's what you get with "Breakeven."
Combine that with the arrangement and Danny O'Donoghue's voice and you've got the third single from the self-titled debut from the Dublin, Ireland natives.
 Last year, when "The Script" was in Atlanta, they were opening for David Cook, AI winner for season 7.
I later saw that they were doing some opening shows for U2 and Paul McCartney.
They're that good.
On October 11 of this year, they begin their first headlining tour of the U.S.