The Best Of Crabb Corner Part 3

What I'm doing here is saving some of the highlights of blogs that are in the Crabb Corner.  It's a very long and tedious work but I am finding some classic moments in the history of blog.  Hope they bring back memories for you too.   RS 2008

Mama's don't let your daughters grow up to be CD collectors,  otherwise chances are you will have to wait a while to be grandma.  (Summer's Halfway Gone 7/19/03)

With all the jails getting crowded, it dont make sense to put downloaders in jail.  But then again, ain't the reason why CD sales are down is that there is too much Crappy CDs out there already?  (The Downloading Problem 7/19/03)

As you may have heard,  C.R had a tornado in the city limits for the first time since 1965.  The National Weather Service have said, that this was a F2 Tornado that had its beginnings in the Vinton area as a weak F1.  KGAN reports The Covington tornado was about 300 yards wide and on the ground for about a quarter mile. The Peace Avenue twister cut a 200-yard-wide swath for a quarter mile.  However, further reports link Covington/Peace Ave CR tornado, and the Vinton are one and the same.

The Tornado or Funnel cloud that was sighted over Springville and then to Martelle, was probaly a very weak F1, but nobody has confirmed that. (Tornado In The Area 7/22/03)

Today, it pains me to say that Cedar Rapids is losing the last reminding record store in town, the only one that sold vinyl.  After July 29,  Relics records will be a thing of the past.  And believe me, there won't be another record store in this town ever again. (Bye Bye Relic Records 7/26/03)

 I was surely remiss in not including Freddie and the Dreamers in my list of sixties bands, but was "I'm Telling You Now" and "You Were Made For Me" much different than Gerry and the Pacemakers "How Do you Do It" or even some of the Beatles songs of the era.  As to the silly way they looked and acted was it any worse that Kiss a decade later.  Harvey in a response to a blog  Bands Not Cost-Effective 7/17/03)  RS Note: Freddie And The Dreamers were a pretty good Manchester UK Band in the 60s but at that time Crabb didn't care much for Fred Garrity and company.  But after buying Best Of Freddie And The Dreamers (EMI 1993) in Phoenix this year, Crabb missed the boat on that one.  They were a fun band. RIP Fred.

You have a point, Statman. I think Freddie & The Dreamers knew they were
riding on the coattails of the Beatles into their 15 minutes of fame, and
their music reflected the fun and innocence of the time. I don't think they
were ever meant to be taken seriously, and they are pretty much remembered
as a novelty act. 'How Do You Do It' was actually offered to the Beatles to
record, but they turned it down. So Gerry & The Pacemakers took it to the
bank instead. (Starman commenting on Harvey's blog on Freddie 7/19/03)

Surprised that Hastings or Reprise didnt stick a 18.99 price tag on the Neil Young Remasters.  Wally world was selling Neil's stuff for 9.86, to which i did buy Hawks and Doves.  It's mainly Country on one side, Folk on the other.   And I suppose that On The Beach has actually sounded better 29 years later.   But I still remain partial to Re Act Or, in terms of rocking out, sure Rust Never Sleeps or Ragged Glory is better, and sure Neil pretty much mailed it in, and sure I still perfer T Bone over the overblown Shots,  But Neil and Co. still do a rocking Southern Pacific.

Grades

On The Beach  A-

Hawks and Doves  B+

Re Act Or B+

(The Neil Young albums finally reissued 8/22/03)

Is it just me or am I tired of seeing Rafeal Palmero touting Viagra on every baseball game?   All the viagra in the world aint gonna help the Texas Rangers go UP in the standings.  (Or was it steroids instead?  From a blog 8/22/03)

I thought that Ozzy singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame was even funnier (Starman replying to a blog 8/22/03)

Among other things, anybody heard of the 70s band Linn County? They were probaly one of the earliest Iowa bands to get on a major label, they recorded two albums for Mercury, and more obscure album for Phillps.  Myself, I never heard any of their albums, but Steven Miller, no relation to Steve (fly like a eagle) Miller, leader and keyboardist has passed away at age 60 due to bad liver.  There was talk of putting Linn County's albums on CD, but nothing has ever materized on it.  Stephen Miller would go on to play for Elvin Bishop and Grinderswitch, another band who made albums i have yet to hear.  Miller did return to reform Linn County for a one off reunion in the late 90s.  (Stephen Miller RIP 8/25/03)

I drove over 1000 miles on a rental car from Phoenix to Prescott, to Kingman via Route 66, then to Oatman and then to Needles, and back across to Bullhead City and back to Kingman, then to Flagstaff via Route 66 again, then to Phoenix.

Best bargains were found at Hastings, found JR Walker's Shotgun/Road Runner 2 on 1 cd for 5.99.   The Kingman Hastings had Wet Willie 2 for 3.99, and the Flagstaff Hastings had The Dictators Go Girl Crazy for 4.99.

Kingman has grown twice since my last visit in 1996, I dont recall they had a Hastings back then, but Kingman is still a very dusty and dirty town, I thought bout making a retirement there, but probaly not.  Who knows in 20 years from today, it will be a bigger city.

I only ate at Fuddruckers one time there, and I'm beginning to think that Tramps is right, they are getting to be overpriced.  Still like their big burgers, but their fries suck, and after i eat there, i end up going to the can. Best place for a cheap pizza buffet, Eatza Pizza  (all you can eat for 4.50 day and nite), and it dont come back to haunt you later.

Arizona Route 66, from Toprock to Seligman is one of the most picturesque drives, and is one of the last long strech of Route 66 still around.  Definly worth the hour and half drive off the Interstate. (Arizona trip 2003)

RIP Warren Zevon  (blog 9/8/03)

It had to happen, but four months after June Carter Cash passed away, Johnny Cash has joined her.  Its kinda hard to listen to Where You There (when they crucified My Lord) or Peace In The Valley without a few tears now.  Certainly, JC made some of the most enduring country singles of the 50's and 60s, only to have Columbia boot him in the 80s and spent six years at Mercury as a secondary artist, and then they let him go.  Fortuly, Rick Rubin took him at American Recordings, stripped the sound down to his guitar and vocals, and turned him on to a new generation of kids.  For his last video he made Nine Inch Nail's Hurt his very own.  Only Willie Nelson did more for music at age 70.  Johnny's loss is irreplacible. (notes on Johnny Cash's passing 9/15/03)

http://www.littlestevensundergroundgarage.com

Steve Van Zandt's Underground Garage website to which his undying love of garage rock is a labor of love.  Knocked me out for the inclusion of a obsure video of the 13th Floor Elevator's Your gonna miss me.  You must see this to believe this.  (end of summer 9/20/03)  RS Note at this time Robert Palmer died as well.

 I can't really understand Chuck D's claim that hip-hop is a natural
progression from the blues, either. There are some similarites, such as
subject matter that deals with various social problems, but that's where it
ends for me. Blues has a real finesse, and most of it is never in your face
or obnoxious; a quality woefully missing from the hip hop paradigm. The
link between a musical form that exudes pure emotion and cuts right to the
soul, and the yelling, crotch-grabbing idiocy of rap, is a weak one
indeed---at least to these ears anyway.  Starman commenting on Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues (from the RS Crabb Presents the Blues blog 9/27/03)

Congrats to Da Cubs for doing something they havent done in 95 years, win a divisional series.  One down, two to go. GO CUBBIES. (Reality Blues 10/6/03)

Finally to conclude this part.  My Trip to Ames and the closing of Mi Casa

The last yearly run to Ames has taken place.  Highway 30 from Cedar Rapids to Tama/Toledo is a hour drive with no towns along the way, most of it is a two lane ride, nice if you don't have a 10 ton diesel on your tail, while the car in front of you drives ten miles under the speed limit.  The treat is after Marshalltown, take a right and go down half a mile and turn left and your on your way to Ames on the old Lincoln Highway.  With the fall leaves turning colour here and the sun shining it almost has a surreal look and feel, something like being back in the early years when you can take a leisurely drive and not have to worry bout betting ran over by some diesel truck driver.  

State Center is located almost center of state, where everybody waves at you, even when your a stranger.  The train goes through the downtown area, with some of the old signs of long closed up shops still hanging.  Small town at its best.

Next stop Colo, they are rebuilding and remodeling the old gas station and hotel on the main drag of Lincoln Highway.

And its on to Nevada, a town that I used to lived in when I was seven years old.  We lived on the outskirts of town, but cant tell you where its at.   The Ben Franklin there is still in business, back then it was the place to buy records.  Mother found a copy of Jimi Hendrix's Hey Joe (with picture sleeve RIP sob) for 30 cents.  Amazingly Mom always had a good ear for music too.  Anyway, Nevada this year had their homecoming dance canceled with the local rowdies broke out the prinicpal's windows to his car.  Every homecoming the kids do TP the high school everyday that week, but too much rowdyism and no homecoming dance.  However, that did not stop some parents from renting out the VFW to have a alternative dance.  Ah, good ole Nevada.

And the trip ends at Ames.  Where the local Mister Money pawnshop had only two cds for da crabb, and Hastings had the rest.  However, the copy of T REX electric Warrior that i got, was very scratchy.  Hope it plays.

In Ames, they have a noise ordinace, so when the local Union Pacific train rolls by, they have these sublimated train horns blaring from speakers.  When I was there earlier, I did noticed that the horn sounded much different than it was at the Nature center, turns out it was all speakers and not the actual train.   Gawd the things that amuse me.

And I suspect that the Union pacific will not stop at Mount Vernon anymore now that Mi Casa has closed shop, breaking this mexican food lover's heart.  I guess the memory of the big burly engineer stopping the train to get a quik take out order will probaly be what i remember most of Mi Casa.   Another memory is Gwen always complaining that i didn't order any desert.   Told her did that one time and I almost didnt make it home without pooing my pants. 

But Mount Vernon to Ames is two hours and ten minites, and Taco Time aint no Mi Casa, but it will do for now when i am there.  After all, the nearest Taco Time is two time zones away.  Why did I go to Ames?  I donno, the bargain hunting bug bit me on the ass and pointed that direction.  For the next trip, it will probaly be Mad city again before the snows hit.  The bargains maybe caught up for now and da crabb will not buy anymore for a while, but even you know that there will be a next time.  (10/8/03)

I'm  singing the No More Mi Casa blues.  My favorite mexican restrauant in Mount Vernon has now closed, so I cant take you to the best Mex in the area.  Havent been there in two weeks, and when i get there, theres a For Rent sign hanging.  Guess its back to Moreno's (which also would close three years later.  You can't seem to keep a good Mexican place in business very long.....