Friday 5 for January 26: On the right tracks

Another Friday 5 question group on music... Late but could not pass this one up.

1. Which obscure song is better than well-known songs by the same artist?

There are plenty... but for now I will go with Paul McCartney. Here is a guy that goes all the way back to the 1960s and most well known for being one  of the four Beatles. However his career continued moving forward from the 1970s til today. Over those decades he has churned out many memorable and popular tracks on his own, as well as with his next group, Wings. That said, here are my Top 5+5 "obscure" hits by Paul McCartney.

• 1. I'll Give You A Ring (1982)
• 2. Ou Est le Soleil (1989)
• 3. Temporary Secretary (1980)
• 4. Seize the Day (2020)
• 5. Country Dreamer (Paul McCartney & Wings - 1973)
• 6. Frozen Jap (1980)
• 7. Sing the Changes (The Firemen - 2008)
• 8. Daytime Nighttime Suffering (Paul McCartney & Wings - 1979)
• 9. Sally G (Paul McCartney & Wings - 1974)
• 10. The Mess (Live - Paul McCartney & Wings - 1973)

2. What are some no-skip albums, albums whose tracks are all great to listen to?

Not counting compilations and boxed sets, here are my favorites:

• 1. Rumours - Fleetwood Mac (1977)
• 2. Ring - The Connells (1993)
• 3. Let It Be - The Beatles (1970/2021 Deluxe)
• 4. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John (1973)
• 5. Revolver - The Beatles (1966)
• 6. Cannibal Courtship - Dengue Fever (2011)
• 7. Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor - Caro Emerald (2010)
• 8. A Hard Days' Night - The Beatles (1964)
• 9. Band on the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings (1973)
• 10. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles (1967)

Many others would also be on this list. The most recent album that I love all tracks:

• Hackney Diamonds - The Rolling Stones (2023)

3. Which album didn’t do it for you at first, but became a favorite after repeated listens?

• Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent - Lewis Capaldi (2019)

4. Which album is best listened to at night?

I like listening to the following albums by Enya to put me to sleep:

• Watermark
• Shepherd Moons
• The Memory of Trees
• Amarantine

5. Which album is best listened to in a car?

I don't listen to albums in the car since my commute is short.

That said, I figure the main reason to listen to an album in the car is to keep you up and not fall asleep while driving... so here goes....

• Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
• The Connells - Ring
• The Raveonettes - In And Out of Control
• The Raveonettes - Pretty in Black
• The Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds
• AC/DC - Power Up

Friday 5 for January 19: Random topic generator

 From Scrivener's Friday 5 blog, here are the questions and answers nearly a week late.

1. How much experience do you have with tobacco?

Personally ZERO - and all instances that I ran into damn tobacco smoke have been NEGATIVE. Stinky. Awful. Foul. Why burn good money on this crap????

2. What have you made with wood?

When I was in middle school I made a wooden napkin holder and doorstop for woodshop class. I have a picture of those somewhere... can't find it now.

3. What do you think of farmers markets in your area?

I rarely go, though when I do go I like looking around and buying some fresh veggies and fruit. Some of these markets also sell too many non-farm produced trinkets which I never buy.

4. What’s a good movie, novel, or TV show containing a shipwreck?

While the fictional love story is basically crap, the re-creation of the sinking of the Titanic is great... Gotta love the special effects of that sinking in the movie.

Other great shipwreck movies:

• The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
• Mysterious Island (1961)
• The Final Countdown (1980) - what if a massive shipwreck event could be prevented....

And the ultimate shipwreck TV series.... Gilligan's Island... a silly but classic TV show of all time.

5. What’s a good song with the word magic in its title or lyrics?

Here are a few quick titles...

• Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles
• Magic - The Cars
• You Can Do Magic - America
• Magic - Olivia Newton John
• Magic's In the Dancing - Lighthouse
• Black Magic Woman - Fleetwood Mac; famously covered by Santana

Friday 5 January 12: Stolen 5

1.What do you drink in the morning?

Water is the only thing I drink 98% of the time during my day. Since I have to take my morning medications, I almost 100% take them with water.

2. What was the last song you heard?

This changes by the minute or at the most a few hours. Except when I am at work, I always have some music playing. Right now that song is "The River" by the fictional rock band Daisy Jones & The Six from the Amazon Prime TV series of the same name. This is what I was listening to when I was typing up the responses for this blog on Google Docs a few hours ago.

You can keep up to date on what I last listened to by checking out my Last FM profile:

https://www.last.fm/user/macpro

I love music, music genres, lists and tracking the songs I listen to through a process called "scrobbling" at the Last FM website. I also publish music charts on my blog and at the M4B Personal Charts site online where chart geeks hang out.

M4B Charts Website - my username there is macprohawaii.

https://freakyflybry.proboards.com/board/38/personal-charts

Mel's Current Top 20 chart page

http://macpro.freeshell.org/music/WTop20.html - This is an old school web page that I have continually published since 1999.

Mel's Music Blog - charts, music streams, opinions, videos… lots of pop rock and oldies stuff here.

https://macprohawaii-music.blogspot.com/

My current most favorite song since September 2023 is "Angry" by The Rolling Stones. It is quite surprising that these three remaining 80 year old guys can still rock it along with their much younger back-up musicians. So in the end of my most recent scrobbles, you'll find "Angry" as the song I last played.

3. What are your feelings about ghosts?

The day I see and photograph one I'll believe it. Currently: No.

4. How do you feel about camping?

Inconvenient but could be fun. The last time I camped out was on July 11, 1991. I slept in a car waiting for a total solar eclipse to occur early the next morning.

5. What are your thoughts on showers vs. baths?

Showers are quicker. Both can be fun if you can do something creative with them. But for the most part I'm in a hurry and have to move on.

These questions and more are posted on Scrivener's Blog.

Friday 5 for January 5: Touch that dial

The following questions come from the weekly Friday 5 blog. Scrivener says, "Please feel free to define TV anyway you wish." - For me TV is well, TV, computer, tablet and smart phone. Mostly I watch TV on my Mac.

BTW, when was the last time you saw a TV with a dial on it?

1. What’s the most boring thing on TV?

Too much to mention. There are so many boring things on TV, but I would guess a test pattern, snow (on old analog TV sets) and the blue screen of death are probably the most boring things on TV. I mean a test pattern. How long can you stand watching this:

2. What’s the most enlightening thing on TV?

Nothing is really enlightening on TV. Perhaps if you are of faith there may be some types of religious programs that you might find enlightening.

3. What’s the most comforting thing on TV?

Free streaming from YouTube, Pluto TV, TUBI TV and other streamers... plus TV stations that you can catch for FREE using an antenna. It is comforting to know that despite annoying ads, a lot of content is available and you don't have to spend a single penny to get it...re: no subscription fees. All the free streams are good for background noise while you do something else. My favorites are music mixes and Airline Videos.

4. What’s the tawdriest thing on TV?

Currently any press conference coming out of The White House.

5. What’s the most thrilling thing on TV?

That changes a lot from time to time. Thrilling can be anything from rocket launches, Dragon spaceflight, Starship, Falcon 9, Falcon Super Heavy, etc. (think Space X) to science fiction TV shows and movies that I watch over and over again: Babylon 5, Star Trek (various), Star Wars, The Expanse, The X Files, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits; anything in space and sci-fi oriented. I also like the Taylor Sheridan produced shows, many which I have yet to watch.... think Yellowstone and several spin-offs.

A lot of Space X content streams live on YouTube and NASA TV. All free of charge. Yay!

Friday 5 for December 29: Repetitively redundant

 

The last Friday 5 Answers blog entry - 123 123 (December 31, 2023).

Questions from Scrivener's Friday 5 blog.

1. What inconveniences do you experience every single day?

I hate bending down.

2. What do you wish you weren’t so often in close proximity to?

Rail and TOD developments.

3. This past week, what would you have appreciated some advance warning about? (alternate question: What were you grateful to receive advance warning about?)

Paper copy of birth certificate. Fortunately I found it. Yay!

4. What caused you to smile happily today?

My best friend waking up and saying "Happy 123 123." It's the last day of the year.

5. When did you recently give in to a sudden impulse?

I ate a whole can of Almond Roca while watching TV.

Friday 5 for November 17: Roll the bones

 

From Scrivener's Friday 5 blog.

1. How do you feel about gambling?

I'm not a fan of gambling. I don't gamble.

2. Which casino-type game do you most enjoy?

None.

3. What’s the riskiest thing you’ve done recently?

Spent money.

4. What are the chances this will be a terrific weekend for you?

Chances are low that it will be terrific.

5. What’s your favorite (gambling or not gambling) card game?

Solitaire on my computer or phone.

Friday 5 for November 10: When it’s time to change, you’ve got to rearrange

 

I was going to use The Brady Bunch's "hit" single "Time to Change" for this Friday 5 Answer. However I am late in answering and saw that two other bloggers used the song in their responses. That said I offer this song of "Change" from 2013. It was my favorite song of that year... the band is Churchill, who disbanded shortly after this became a #1 alternative rock hit and a free iTunes giveaway.

As usual the source for the Friday 5 is from Scrivener.

1. If you could change one minor thing about your life right now, what would you choose?

What I do is usually safety check my car about 1 or 2 days after the expiration date. That way my next safety check deadline is pushed to the next month of the following year. Been doing this now for several years.

2. What’s your favorite bubblegum?

Bazooka Bubble Gum.. if you combined two or more together they could make the biggest bubble ever that broke on your face. Plus it had that funky Bazooka Joe comic strip folded within the gum wrapper. It was back in my day only a penny per gum. I haven't seen this bubble gum in ages. I looked it up, the company Bazooka is still in business making the gum, though the comic strip is no longer offered.

3. When did you most recently need an unexpected change of clothing?

While it was not expected, a few times I was caught in a rainy downpour... but then I was just wearing very casual clothes so I did not much care... plus I was close to home. We haven't had rain in a long time here.

4. Where do you keep your (currency) change?

• Dollar bills assorted - Mostly in my wallet.
• Loose Change / Coins - In plastic 35mm film containers and prescription pill bottles. Also some loosely in desk drawers, car console area.

5. When did you most recently need a change of scenery?

I haven't traveled out of the Honolulu urban core for more than three years now. I probably do need a change of scenery, even if only temporarily.