Mr. Heartbreak

I'd say the first 4 discs are all excellent, with very little filler. I saw 'em in '79, so you can imagine how f'ed up they were by then ... still, Rats in the Cellar live was pretty freaking great.

For you folks here in sunny F-L-A, Obama is scheduled to be making stops in Tampa and Orlando on Monday ... which also happens to be the first day for early voting here. Details at fl.barackobama.com.

I don't know for sure, but I think some of them were people who had moved. When their new address didn't match their voter registration cards, they were not allowed to vote. I read that somewhere a while back. There were some other weird disqualifications too ... Also, don't forget that in certain battleground states, people may face the prospect of standing in line for 10-12 hours. The Obama campaign is encouraging anyone who can vote early to do so. In FL, next Monday is the start of early voting, so there's no excuse not to do it. Why wait until Election Day when you've got two weeks to g

I wish I had that kind of confidence, but I still don't trust the polls as a guideline to the outcome. Gore was ahead by double digits at this point in October 2000. Also, take a quick look at this: www.gregpalast.com/rolling-stone-its-already-stolen Anyone even remotely interested in getting Obama elected needs to pitch in, if they aren't doing so already. He will have to beat McCain by a sizable margin - millions of votes - in order to become our next president, due to the massive amount of voter purging that has gone on around the country since 2004. I'll be out tomorrow campaigning

Those are the best, but there's still much to recommend the others I mentioned. Rock Of The Westies - Has some great songs, especially hits Island Girl and I Feel Like A Bullet, but also Billie Bones & The White Bird ... that is a GREAT closing track, and rather unusual, even for an unusual guy like Elton! Here And There - The original release of this was kind of lame, but the remaster is like having a full concert. Absolutely killer, especially the tracks with John Lennon. Blue Moves - Much maligned, but still very interesting double album. Ambitious, though flawed ... kind of like Joni M

I'm a singer myself, and I have to say, I truly have admired Elton ever since I first heard him, which was at the dawning of his popularity. What a voice! I would put him and Paul McCartney in my top five pop/rock singers list any time. I agree that Elton and Bernie Taupin had an incredible run from about 1970 to 1976. Not everyone would go this far, but I would actually recommend all of the following: 1969 Empty Sky 1970 Elton John 1970 Tumbleweed Connection 1971 11-17-70 [Live] 1971 Friends Soundtrack 1971 Madman Across The Water 1972 Honky Chateau 1973 Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano

Sounds like something I would have done if I were a judge.

Damn, that is awesome. I always disliked Buckley Sr. intensely, but at least he was an intelligent and well-read man. I could fundamentally disagree with him on virtually every issue, yet still respect his intellect. Unfortunately, these days intellectuals like Buckley (and his son reads like one, too) are held in fairly low esteem in America in general, and in the Republican party in particular. It seems many in the America of today value strength and aggressiveness over insight or compassion, and don't have much use for those who have been cursed with the ability to think. Witness the as

I've mentioned this one on here before, too. My go-to versions of several songs, including Alabama, West L.A., Dupree's, Throwin' & Touch of Grey. I really like this one, and today's (10/10/82) isn't too shabby either!

In an odd way, I'm glad Palin joined the race. Before, I was just going to vote for Obama/Biden. Thanks to Palin, I'm campaigning for them.

I wonder if Zappa would have reworked "When the Lie's So Big" for Sarah Palin. They got lies so big They don't make a noise They tell 'em so well Like a secret disease That makes you go numb With a big ol' lie And a flag and a pie And a mom and a bible Most folks are just liable To buy any line Any place, any time When the lie's so big As in Sarah Palin's case, (That sinister face Behind all the Jesus hurrah) Could result in the end To a worrisome trend In which every American Not "born again" Could be punished in cruel and unusual ways By this treacherous cretin Who tells everyone Tha

Damn, it warms my heart to see another Zappa thread. This should be kept going just like the Grateful Dead one ... "You'll love it ... it's a way of life" is something that's made it into my permanent vernacular. There must be a few more, but I can't think of them right now. I have to say I'd put One Size Fits All as the best studio album, with close seconds being Overnight Sensation and Apostrophe. On the other hand, some of his best guitar playing comes from other places: Black Napkins, Watermelon In Easter Hay, Rat Tomago, etc. If you want a good laugh, go to www.zappa.com and do a se

Happy Birthday Bridget! You're one of the good ones here.

Nice. Wish they'd come to Florida again!

A week ago, I missed my chance to post a shout-out for my very last show w/Jerry and the boys, 9/13/91. So here's one for today. What a setlist! Fillmore East, NY, NY 9/20/70 Uncle John's Band, Deep Elem Blues, Friend Of The Devil, Big Railroad Blues, Dark Hollow, Ripple, To Lay Me Down, Truckin', Rosalie McFall, Cumberland Blues, New Speedway Boogie, Brokedown Palace Casey Jones, China Cat Sunflower-> I Know You Rider, Candyman, Sitting On Top Of The World, Good Lovin'-> Drums-> Good Lovin', Big Boy Pete, Me & My Uncle, Easy Wind, Sugar Magnolia, Attics Of My Life, Mama T

Wow, that is very, very sad news. I've been a huge Floyd fan for the past 30 years, and it was bad enough losing Syd, but this is somehow worse ... seeing as how Syd wasn't likely to ever "come back," so to speak. Don't know what else to say. Playing "Set the Controls" right now ...

I would love to have seen these during a Wilco show!

The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking by Roger Waters in 1986. Dang, I'm getting old!

Better duck, Rider, they're coming for ya now. Even if you're right, you're gonna get slammed for that one. Trust me, I should know.

That is a very sweet show indeed. Thanks for posting those links! "Dust off those rusty strings just one more time Can't keep from crying ..."

One of my favorite Berthas. Good show to start off "newbies."

What was overdubbed on Europe '72? That's always been my #1 choice for live Dead: definitive versions of Jack Straw, Chinacat>Rider, Brown Eyed Women ... Love it.

Yep, that was the one. The YCDTOSA version has the complete solo, though the sound quality is different. I'll come look for the blue guy!

I would add Zappa's You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Volume 2, the Helsinki concert. Excellent show with a great lineup. Also, any live Coltrane. I know this is a thread on rock albums, but Coltrane rocks. Seriously.

January Jones is the new Grace Kelly.