New Year (See: Happy)

 

Good Riddance 2025, You Heartless Bastard

 

 I'M ONLY  STAYING UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT 

  ON NEW YEAR'S EVE 

TO WATCH 2025 DIE

 

I'll say this, 2025 broke some of the most positive people in my universe. 2025 was even worse than 2024, and 2024 was a real stinker. If the cheerleaders in my life are saying things like, "Man this sucks," then you know, man, this sucks.

As you may have gleaned over the years, I am not an overly optimistic person. But as I live and breathe, I swear I wake up every morning with the intention of taking it all on. That it all goes to hell in a hand basket by 9:25 AM isn't always my fault. 

One of my best friends always says, "Good times ahead, Supe."

(He calls me Supe, as in Super Sal. I hope you all have a friend like that.) 

The only thing is, he started saying that to me in 2007. He'd say it whenever he thought I needed to hear it. I think he stopped around the 3,433rd time he said it. Even he knew just a few weeks into 2025, those "good times" bailed on the party.

But, we turn the page. We have to. We have to because there are good people out there, and good people need more good people around them. Besides, complaining just annoys people. Trust me. Being a curmudgeon gets old for those you are being curmudgeonly around. Real fast. 

"Grey skies are gonna clear up." 
When, you hopeful bastard, when?

But, in my defense, sometimes your head and heart are simply too heavy to put on a happy face. Sometimes, it really and truly is justified. But no matter how heavy your head and heart may feel, you must get on with it. I'm just grateful for those who are still around after telling them the same sob story for the 50th time. And maybe, just maybe, I need to put a little more effort into it. You know, a little more "half full."

I have great people in my life. More than a few have come to my rescue this year. One friend has had an even harder year than me, and that friend still managed to come through when I needed it. Some of you have come through. Others, people I have known for 50 years, have disappeared. I'm guessing it's because of our political differences. I can't change that. 

So, to all of you good people, I thank you for another year. I wish you all good health and happiness in 2026. 

Be kind and generous to one another, especially if you can for someone who can't.

It goes a long way.

 

 

 

 

NEXT!

 

When I was working in Smash Compact Disc on St. Mark's Place, Gary the owner would man the stereo system the entire time he was present. For six hours of your 12 hour shift, you were at the mercy of his musical taste. Sometimes this meant listening to the same CD over and over and over again because he was trying to sell it. That wasn't too bad, if you liked the CD. But the week he ordered 30 copies of a 2 CD Jonathan King compilation because he assumed everyone loved "Everyone's Gone To The Moon" and "Johnny Reggae" as much as he did, was absolute torture.

He also liked to play Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" record quite often, and every single time, would skip "Cecilia," because he hated it. "It ruins the album!" I happen to love "Cecilia" and think there are at least three others off that album worth skipping.

Which brings me to today's question?

What record do you love, save for one speed bump?

I thought about this after the comments about R.E.M. on yesterday's post.

"Automatic For The People" is my second favorite after "Life's Rich Pageant." But I think "Everybody Hurts" is god awful. As a matter of fact, it would rank very high on my list of worst songs by anybody. What others find powerful and emotional, to my ears sounds like the exact opposite. Michael Stipe is not a soul singer and he proves it in spades on this track. He's emoting and it hurts. 

Aside from that speed bump, "Automatic For The People' is pretty damn great. 

 

Songs Of The Week, 2025: 12/20-12/26

 

Ice Cream Man- John Brim
Slipped, Tripped & Fell In Love- Ann Peebles
Swerve- Tin Men
The Waterboy- You Am I
Love And Danger- Rosie Flores & Joe Ely
A Pair Of Brown Eyes- The Pogues
Sitting Still- R.E.M.

 

Ice Cream Man- John Brim
(I heard this on a Van Halen album before hearing the original. I love both.)

Slipped, Tripped & Fell In Love- Ann Peebles
(We lost the great Don  Bryant this week, a partner both in songwriting and in real life of Ann Peebles. This gem was not written by Bryant, but by George Jackson.)

Swerve- Tin Men
(Always a must-see when In New Orleans, they are without question, the world's foremost guitar, washboard and tuba trio. I think it was Paul In DK who said, "this sounds like Bobby Charles fronting NRBQ.")

The Waterboy- You Am I
(One of many fantastic tracks on their new 2 CD collection, "The Dollop & The Wallop.)

Love And Danger- Rosie Flores & Joe Ely
(We lost the great Joe Ely this week. Here he is with the great Rosie Flores. This is a great song.)

A Pair Of Brown Eyes- The Pogues
(There is a just released new vinyl remaster of "Rum Sodomy & The Lash" that also features a bonus LP with the entire "Poguetry In Motion" E.P., as well as b-sides and live tracks. Excellent remastering and package. Highly recommended.)

Sitting Still - R.E.M.
(I hated "Murmur" when it was released, and I can't say I liked the next two either. It was "Life's Rich Pageant" that made me come around, and it remains my favorite R.E.M. record. I do love "Murmur" now, though.)

Lower case zip is active until 8AM, 12/31.

Upper case ZIP is the old, hit or miss depending on your computer, way.

Enjoy! 

 

zip

ZIP 

BW's Saturday #73

 

Tribute

 

A lovely tribute to those we lost in 2025.

The chart and code might be too small to read, but I was quite moved seeing #37.

 

 

(h/t hpunch)

 

 

 

Merry Christmas Everybody

 

Wherever you go, whatever you do, I wish all of you wonderful people a day filled with the joy and the spirit and the good things about Christmas Day.

Travel safely. Be kind. Embrace Mariah Carey.