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Archives for 2009

BTO founders being sued

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The driving force behind BTO (Bachman-Turner Overdrive), Randy Bachman and Fred Turner, is now being sued by it’s remaining member’s. The former band mates, Robin Bachman and Blair Thornton, are suing the pair for using their own names.

After the group broke up in 1977, the lawsuit claims Randy Bachman and Turner signed away the rights to the BTO name to their two former bandmates and agreed not to use the Bachman-Turner Overdrive name without the consent of the other parties.

The lawsuit states that Randy Bachman and Turner signed two further deals in 1984 and 2002, saying they wouldn’t use the Bachman-Turner Overdrive name in connection to new recordings and live performances. CTV

The 1970’s Supergroup, made some great music back in the day. Randy and Fred were the brains behind the collection of musicians and I think that they should be able to use the name that they branded. I know the law is against them but when does common sense come into play in something like this? That’s all I have to say.

Here is my Top seven most loved BTO songs!

  1. Lookin’ Out for #1
  2. Not Fragile
  3. Let It Ride
  4. Takin’ Care of Business
  5. You Ain’t Seen nothing Yet
  6. Take it like a man
  7. Gimme Your Money Please

Keep on Jammin’ Randy and Fred!




Cat Stevens is finally back on the road after 30 years

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Cat Stevens is going back out on the road after 30 long years of obscurity! I wonder what kind of groups will be following him? Ah, I know that was a bad one! I just love the man’s songs.

Scottie, Myro is what we called him amongst other names, was the one who taught me some of his songs. They were simple to play but much more fun to listen to. I always thought that both of us would get a chance to see this legendary folk guitarist/song writer perform together. Myro if your reading this post, if I win the lottery we’re there brother!

Singer-songwriter Yusuf Islam, known as Cat Stevens in the 1970s, takes the stage in Dublin on Sunday, the first performance of his first full tour since 1976.

Born Steven Demetre Georgiou in London, the folk legend disappeared from the music scene after he converted to Islam in 1977 at the height of his popularity.

He began making sporadic stage appearances in recent years. In 2006, he recorded a new album, An Other Cup, following it with Roadsinger this year.

Now 61, Islam is going back on the road with his Guess I’ll Take My Time tour.

He told the Irish Times that he hopes his old fans will turn out for these concerts.

“A lot of people might have thought — because of the way that my image per se had changed throughout the media — that my actual persona would change as well. But, in fact, you never really stop being yourself, you know,” he said.

Islam opens in Dublin’s O2 Arena on Nov. 15. Then he’s at Birmingham’s NIA the following Monday, Nov. 23, Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Dec. 5 and London’s Royal Albert Hall on Dec. 8.

No dates have been confirmed for appearances in Canada, the U.S. or other countries. CBC News

Keep on Jammin’ Yusuf Islam

John Mayer and Jennifer Anniston at the Oscars

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So John Mayer and Jennifer Anniston are planning to go to the Oscars are they?

Well to me I couldn’t really care about what the great guitarist does in his personal life and to be honest with you, I’m pretty sure he couldn’t care what I do in mine! All I know is that I just love how the guy makes music with his axe not his ex?!

A recent article from the site Newspostonline.com is something that caught my eye today. Are they seeing each other again, good for them. Are they going to get married, raise a family and live happily ever after is not a concern with me, but others it seems like it is so important. Why are so many people so intrigued with celebrities personal lives so much? Don’t they have lives and worries of their own?

I just had to get this off my chest!

Keep on Jammin’ John

Steven Tyler Says He’s Not Quitting Aerosmith

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So is the drama over whether or not Steve Tyler, the lead singer from Aerosmith, is leaving the band finally put to rest? Well according to an article from today’s New York Timer he is staying.

Last week, Mr. Perry, the Aerosmith guitarist, had said that Mr. Tyler quit after Mr. Tyler gave an interview to a British music magazine in which he said he was preparing to focus on a solo career. Mr. Perry went so far as to announce on his Twitter feed on Monday that Aerosmith was looking for a new lead singer. The New York Times

Was this story just a ploy to gather some attention for the bands latest tour? Is there really some underlining truth to it?

I for one love the band! Songs like Dream On, will forever be linked to not only memories of past events in my life but countless others as well. Some of Aerosmith’s songs were like a soundtrack to our lives. That first love of your life, a concert that will not be equaled or some other memorable adventures from our past.

So if good old Steve leaves the band, will you still follow their music?

Keep on Jammin’

Remembrance Day 2009

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Today is a day set aside to remember all those courageous young men and women who lost their lives for all of us. I just came back from today’s services at the East York cenotaph and there was a great turn out this year. Everyone from school kids and regular citizens of East York.

Last years service was the first one that I attended. I found it very moving and it brought back the times that I had shared with my late Great Private James (Joe) Henry Judge (Reg. # 3310131). He was considered a ARMY CLASS “A” member and received this, and a few more, war medal . He served in the Great War (WWI) in the Canadian 58th Battalion.

Here is a link to the book of remembrance of his fellow solders that passed away in battle that I found on line today. I just thought it is fitting to remember not only him but his fellow comrades in arms on their special day of remembrance.

I also did a post a while back about how the Canadian Government honoured our military men and women on the Canadian $10 bill. I found it some neat bits of information about what they put on our the bill and what it suppose to mean!

So to all those who have fallen, God bless them all.

The singing Cardiologist

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This is video is performed by the best Cardiologist that I’ve ever met! The guy does everything. It’s taken during a Christmas party a few years ago that I not attend. I work with all of these great people that are in the video and yes they are pretty much always that happy!

Warning, I hope that you have a strong stomach for this one.

Keep on Jammin’ (or should I say beating?)

Great balls of fire

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talk about one hell of a hot keyboardist! This is something that you would be exposed to when you witness my old keyboardist friends Tony F or Rick M while sitting on the side of the stage!

greatballsoffireband.jpg

The bass player reminds me of those crazy bassists that I’ve had the honour of playing with, Chris Noto or Jon Penrose! No sense no feeling boys?! Ah, just kiddin’ ya!

Keep on Jammin’

Winterfolk 2010

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Winterfolk is a blues/folk festival that is held in Toronto’s east end that runs from February 12 -15, 2010. It is held in The Danforth Ave area in a couple of locations. It will be held at five or more clubs at the corner of Danforth and Broadview in Toronto, all within close walking distance of the subway.

What is Winterfolk? Well check out the link and view the video below for more details!

Last year’s festival was a big hit in the neighbourhood.

The bands were fabulous and the venues owners were quite happy with the turnout. The price for admission is very realistic for the amount of entertainment value that you will get in return. Besides, what else are you going to do in the dead of winter anyway?

If your an band looking to maybe partake in this annual Festival, there will be a few audition locations around southern Ontario in which to try out. for more info check out this link!

Keep on Jammin’

Portishead are back in the studio

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Portishead is one of those bands that just floored me when I heard them for the first time. This is one of the many bands that my wife and I, happy 20 years together baby and many more to come, love to listen to together.

Some people love it, some people are ok with it and others say “what are you high”? Some refer to their style as Trip Hop and that one sounds good enough for me! Others tag this genre as electronic, electro, acid jazz, ambient, hypnotic or chillout.

They’ve said that the name of their style, that the media critics have pigeon toed them into, is something that they find odd to say the least. They really don’t see themselves as that kind of band. They say much of their inspiration for their slightly other worldly sounding style comes from the very boring and commonplace everyday irritations that they’ve experienced in life.

The bands catalyst that nudges them into their own unique style of music starts off by the band being pissed off or grumpy at whatever is happening to them at that point in time. This is what really steers them into their musical direction.

The band’s sound is haunting, to say the least. I find my consciously drifting off when Protishead’s music comes floating out of my home stereo speakers. Their music puts you into some sort of trance that leaves you powerless to resist the new age musical orientation. It’s hard to argue that they in fact created their own distinct musical genre.

They are one of a few bands that forces me to be cognizant of their lyrical input, even though I not a great lover/follower of words (I know it shows in my lack of writing skills, I sure ain’t no literary Laureate!). My regular readers will realize this, my lack writing abilities, as a reoccurring theme that is constantly splashed all over this blog! Portishead is just a great band to listen to in my eyes! Ah the sounds of the 90’s!

The two CD’s we have in our collection are Dummy (1995) won them the Mercury Prize and their 1997 self titled album Portishead that went directly to the top 10 in Britain. Then after that … nothing. This silence has lasted up until now!

Portishead has just released a new album titled Third. Not much is known about it now but if it is anything like some of the bands earlier collaborations then we’re all in for a treat! I hope to find out later a little bit more about this album and expose you all to the bands magical spell that it holds over me!

The band consists of Beth Gibbons, Adrian Utley, Geoff Barrow and the odd time they throw in Dave McDonald into the mix, he’s a producer and engineer on their albums.

So has anyone else out there heard of these guys?

Keep on Jammin’ Portishead

Here are some interesting links to check out that is related to this post!

TV’s Glee is coming out with an album?

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Fox’s top rated show called Glee is about a group of modern day kids struggling to find their way through high school.

The school’s Glee club is in constant conflict with the other school groups but it’s the music that they perform together that helps them navigate the conflicts in those crazy years of self discovery! Now it seems that the kids are going to release solo albums in the near future! Their release will be entitled Glee: The Music volume 1 & 2. It will be followed up with a 2010 tour.

Maybe the creatures of Glee are trying to capture the magic that came from the classic TV show of the 70’s called The Partridge Family?! Remember the bus!!!

Musically, I like the way in how these kidz interpret some classic tunes. The tunes they perform are essentially the same as the original versions but with subtle variations. I watched this episode other day that featured a song one of the football players played on his guitar.It was from Neil Diamond called Sweet Caroline. I must admit that I learned a neat chord progression that he played on this one that I can use for other tunes!

Apparently songs that have already been released from the show are a hit, with a reported 1.8 million digital downloads. The “Glee” version of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin” sold 522,000 downloads and has peaked at # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in it’s first week. Go, “Glee.”

The songs on the future 2 albums will consist of ones that they have play on the show. Someone thought that if around 1.8 million digital downloads of their songs can make a few bucks then what would a few albums pull in? Follow that up with a tour of some sort and merchandising … $$$! Well good luck to them!

I’m all for finding different versions in which to play a tune or watch someone reinvent a classic tune no matter what type of format it takes place in. What are your thoughts about this? Yay or Neigh

Keep on Jammin’

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