"I just called to say I love you...I just called to say how much I care."

It’s here. I want one. Bad.

In honor of this auspicious occasion, here are some random choices I pulled from my favorite non-Apple music storage device.

Thank you to one of my alert readers for the heads up on the error in my linkage. It was a blonde moment proving yet again that I am not the brilliant multi-tasker I wish I were. Perhaps a new slogan is in order?

"iPhone: Weapon of Mass Distraction"

The links are now correct and up to date.

Barenaked Ladies - "Call & Answer"

The Feeling - "Love It When You Call"

Nizlopi - "Call It Up"

Zac Maloy - "Early Morning Phone Call"

Eric Hutchinson - "Call Me Back"

Corinne Bailey Rae - "Call Me When You Get This"

Jim Croce - "Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)"

The Ladybug Transistor - "Always On The Telephone"

Shelby Lynne - "Telephone"

Pelle Carlburg - "I Just Called To Say I Love You"

The Rapture - "Callin' Me"

Bonnie Prince Billy - "I Called You Back"

Phoenix - "Long Distance Call"

David Mead - "Telephone"

Primitive Radio Gods - "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hands"

Bracket - "867-5309/Jenny"

Guilt Free Friday

Red Hot Chili Peppers hit the road with Gnarls Barkley this past winter and were to have kicked off their tour in Oklahoma City on January 12^th. Thanks to the ongoing wrath of “Menopausal Mother Nature” that left us blanketed in ice and snow that night, the show was cancelled and instead took place sans Gnarls on March 12^th. I wasn’t able to attend the rescheduled performance as work got in the way. (How could the Peppers play on a Monday night anyway?!?! Damn ‘em!) Even though I was sincerely bummed I had to miss it, I couldn’t let the tickets go to waste so I gave them to the only person I could think deserved them - an ex boyfriend of mine who was the one who introduced me to the Chili Peppers 16 years ago. We’re still great friends and he lives nearby so I called him up and he was stoked. Good deed done; score one more for the karma conscious! He and his gal pal had a blast despite John Frusciante’s scolding freak out on the crowd which he later clarified and explained in a lengthy open letter to fans the next day.

In short, Kiedis & Co. made the mistake of bringing the sleazy Mickey Avalon to the Bible belt and they were disappointed at the less than welcoming reception he received. You see, we don’t like that kinda dirty rap crap ‘round these parts. Actually, I do and knowing this little tidbit of information about me, my former ex/current buddy bought a copy of Avalon’s self titled debut for me to examine and enjoy. Nothing says “Thanks a Million!” like a skankalicious white guy bragging about the size of his member. I kid…I appreciated the gesture.

As a woman, a mother and a fairly moral individual all around, by all accounts I should be boycotting this album. It’s completely inappropriate; full of explicit lyrics advocating misogyny, violence, illicit sex and rampant drug use. Imagine giving an ego maniacal former male prostitute with a heroin habit a microphone and record deal and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what the entire CD sounds like. His grandparents are Holocaust survivors and he has a young daughter for goodness sake! You’d think he’d be more inclined to do something positive with his life. I should hate it. I should burn it.

But, I can’t. It’s like a gruesome car crash…you know it’s wrong to stare but you can’t force yourself to look away.

“Who that dude sleepin' with ya girlfriend…gettin' nude and rude in your bed?”

Mickey Avalon, that’s who.

He’s spreading the disease…go to a show and see what all the fuss is about. He’s infections, people…c’mon and get sick with me.

Mickey Avalon – “My D***”

Mickey Avalon – “Mr. Right”

Mickey Avalon – “Jane Fonda”

Mickey Avalon – “Friends & Lovers”

Further study on the pandemic…

A great Q&A interview with Mickey courtesy of Jewcy.

Footage of an impromptu performance mash up of Mickey’s “Jane Fonda” and Maroon 5’s “This Love”...kinda fun.

Throwback Thursday

My mother has always referred to me as a “pack rat” but I prefer to be called a connoisseur of memories. I of course treasure the important things like postcards and letters from friends in far away places as well as photos and keepsakes that I’ve picked up during my own travels or have been given as gifts. But I also keep the most random shit ever too. I have a toothpick and a matchbook from a particularly wonderful meal I had 4 years ago. I have a shopping list from 1998 that has a note on the back from someone who was special to me then and now. I have my first pregnancy tests (tests being plural because it was a shocker and I was in deep denial the first 4 times) and Miss E’s first bit of everything under the sun...tooth, hair, shoes. I have notes from middle school classmates that are folded in all sorts of secret agent style origami type ways that I have no idea what they say because I can’t get them unfolded now that I’m an adult. And of course there are the endless piles of concert ticket stubs both present and past. See…I’m not really a pack rat so much as I am the historian of my own life. And I like it that way. Well…I did anyway.

After living in the same house for almost a decade, several months ago I decided that we needed a change. I packed up all that stuff I’ve been collecting throughout my lifetime and moved it to the country. It’s been exactly what I was hoping it would be…quiet, peaceful and serene. The move itself wasn’t the most fun ever…in fact, it pretty much sucked but it’s a small price to pay overall.

I told ya that to tell ya this…

I was swimming in what seems like an abyss of boxes in the garage trying to sift through what to cling to as if my life depended on it and what to toss out like trash and came upon a shoebox full of memories 11 years old. The first thing I saw when I took off the lid was this:

I immediately said “Awwwww!” out loud to nobody in particular remembering the super sweet Kevin from Coweta that totally saved me from the crowd by moving me to the front row between himself and the barrier. It was a pretty wild show for an 18 year old country girl like me. Seven Mary Three was big at the time and my friends and I attending the show was a pretty huge deal overall considering we never got to leave town to do anything even remotely exciting. Poe & Salt opened and we missed Salt because we got lost in the downtown area. Arguing ensued and stops for directions were made. It’s funny that one tiny ticket can jog all sorts of obscure memories. I suppose that’s why I keep them.

I figured I’d post up some Poe & 7M3 (they both rocked the house that night, by the way) to take me back all the way. Enjoy!

Poe – “Hello”

Poe – “Angry Johnny”

7M3 – “Cumbersome”

7M3 – “Water’s Edge”

If you are interested in having your own 7M3 ticket stub and making some memories of your own, you can catch them on the road now and throughout the summer.


Seven Mary Three Concert Dates

June 28
Eau Claire, WI

June 29
Aurora, IL

June 30
Des Moines, IA

July 7
Biloxi, MS

July 23
Isle of Palms, SC

July 24
Hilton Head Island, SC

July 25
Greenville, SC

July 27
Charlotte, NC

July 28
Columbia, SC

August 2
Springfield, IL

August 3
Indianapolis, IN

August 4
Jefferson City, MO

August 6
Sturgis, SD

September 28
Mt. Sterling, KY

"And I love the rain the most when it stops."

I love rain. In fact, I love it so much that I’m one of those people who will walk rather than run through it. Most of the time I welcome a good summer shower with open arms and am thankful for it...given my geographical location, it’s needed. “Most of the time” for me ended about a month ago. You see, Mother Nature has been stuck in permanent PMS mode this year dropping record breaking amounts of water all over the area – enough to turn even me into an irritable rain hater. Ever try herding 40 head of cattle over a washed out bridge in a torrential downpour in the dark? Not exactly what you’d call a good time Tuesday night.

I will always love a good thunderstorm with all the bells & whistles no matter how many days it rains…that’s just part of being an Okie. But I have to draw the line somewhere and enough is enough already with this Amazon jungle style rain...BRING BACK THE SUN! I’ve been so aggravated with the constant rain and the mud and mess it leaves behind that I changed my main ringtone to Blind Melon’s “No Rain” yesterday in mild protest. That switch led me to this themed post about a popular musical subject and title through the ages and the current bane of my existence, rain.

I went on a mini-quest through my tunes and realized two things:

1. My Dad is right; I have entirely too much music for one person.
2. I love a lot of “rain” songs.

Randomly and in no particular order outside the top spot, here is a generous sampling of some of my favorite suitably titled or otherwise appropriate tunes found while rummaging…

My all time favorite song to listen to on a rainy day…

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble – “The Sky Is Crying”


The song that started it all. I wonder what Shannon Hoon is doing in heaven today.

Blind Melon - "No Rain"

Great track, great band. This comes from 2000's The Man Who but if you haven't heard their most recent release you must. I've a feeling it'll make it on to several "best of" lists by year's end.

Travis - "Why Does It Always Rain On Me"

Shirley Manson OWNS this song. Hell, she pretty much owns everyone.

Garbage - "Only Happy When It Rains"

One more from the 90's:

These guys are on tour this summer and if you get the chance go check 'em out. They always put on a fun show.

Counting Crows - "Rain King"

Tracy Chapman never seems to get much time in the spotlight but she really does deserve it...she's amazingly gifted. Here's the title track from her best effort to date.

Tracy Chapman - "Let It Rain"

I love me some Zeppelin and I don't know if a tune of theirs exists that I don't enjoy. Here happen to be two of my favorites:

Led Zeppelin - "Fool In The Rain"

Led Zeppelin - "The Rain Song"

Best live show you probably haven't seen yet. These guys are so fun!

Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers - "Flower in the Rain"

I keep meaning to post about Family Tree but haven't done it yet. Here's a track from it though...a goodie from an oldie. Voices as distinct as Nick Drake's don't come around too often and his was a masterpiece.

Nick Drake - "Rain"

An old dog with new tricks, Paul McCartney. This song is off Chaos & Creation in the Backyard which I didn't much care for a few years ago but his latest release Memory Almost Full is actually pretty damn good.

Paul McCartney - "Too Much Rain"


80's artists still kickin' it today:

The Jesus & Mary Chain - "Nine Million Rainy Days"

Prince - "Purple Rain"

Eurythmics - "Here Comes The Rain Again"

On the heels of this post how could I not include this track? Who cares if it's summer...this songs is amazing and so is the video.

Guns N' Roses - "November Rain"

Two versions of this song here...my favorite with classic Mayer banter (you know before he went off and lost his damn mind) and the AGT version that most people are familiar with.

John Mayer - "Covered In Rain"

My favorite version and the Any Given Thursday track.

Remember when I said I love Cerys Matthews? Still do.

Cerys Matthews - "Endless Rain"

The man at the top of my list last year Mr. Dean Fields. If you still haven't listened to his music you should be shot. He's a super guy...even if you don't like the music you'd like him.

Dean Fields - "Dandelion Rain"

More '06 picks:

James Morrison - "The Rain Must Fall"

Stabilo - "Rain Awhile"

Thom Yorke - "And It Rained All Night"

Teitur - "Umbrellas In The Rain"

Sam Moore with Wynonna, Bekka Bramlett, BeBe Winans & Billy Preston - "I Can't Stand The Rain"

Train - "Sweet Rain"

The Black Crowes - "If It Ever Stops Raining"

Ben Harper - "Black Rain"

Am I wrong in thinking that at least 3/4 of the nation would not turn the dial if this song were to play during their morning commute? Furthermore, is it a gross miscalculation on my part to suppose that over 1/2 of them would sing along? We need more James Taylor in our lives people, we just do!

James Taylor - "Fire & Rain"

Like father, like son. He's got the goods too.

The Ben Taylor Band - "Rain"

And more family togetherness as Pink sings along with her Dad on a hidden track from last year's I'm Not Dead:

Pink - "I Have Seen The Rain"

A classic Burt Bacharach tune from Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid that shamefully I still haven't seen in its entirety. The song won an Oscar 8 years before I was born and I know every word. How does that happen?

B.J. Thomas - "Rain Drops Keep Fallin' On My Head"

Some Oklahoma boys...

Leon Russell - "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall"

Garth Brooks – “Everytime That It Rains”



Not my favorite from them but the list wouldn't be complete without it considering I was just driving through the song title.

Old 97's - "Blinding Sheets of Rain"

The guitar god and one of his understudies...

Jonny Lang - "Still Rainin'"

Jimi Hendrix - "Still Raining, Still Dreaming"

I love how thick David's accent is on this track...he's come a long way since Sell, Sell, Sell.

David Gray - "Gutters Full of Rain"

There's a pretty heated debate going on between myself and my friend Davis over what genre this album should be categorized under. Either way, if he's right this track came from the only album that could be considered "Christian Contemporary" in my entire collection. I dig EMS, genre be damned!

Eastmountainsouth - "Rain Come Down"

Probably the most appropriate song for how I feel today. Joe's a stellar performer and a great guy. I brag about him a lot here.

Joe Purdy - "I Love The Rain The Most"

His work with The Police aside, this track comes from my favorite Sting album, Brand New Day.

Sting – “After The Rain Has Fallen”

Say what you will about Keith Urban but he's one of the few modern country artists that I really enjoy. Golden Road was a sensational sophomore effort.

Keith Urban – “Raining on Sunday”

P.M. Dawn were grossly underrated. I still listen to this album from start to finish quite often.

P.M. Dawn – “When It’s Raining Cats & Dogs”

From Blood Sugar Sex Magik...my first introduction to the Peppers and one of their best:

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Naked in the Rain”

Who doesn't love CCR? It's un-American!

Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Who'll Stop The Rain"

The video for this has always gotten on my nerves but I dig the tune. A lot.

Missy Elliott - "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)"

A nicely executed cover by Mr. Cullum. He's taking some time off right now but I can't wait to hear what it comes out with next.

Jamie Cullum - "Singin' In The Rain"

Artists you can expect to hear more about soon now that I've been reminded how much I dig 'em:

Stephen Fretwell - "Rain"

Jenn Grant - "Rainy Day"

From Good Homes - "Rain Dance"

OK Go – “Let It Rain”

Mishka - "When The Rain Comes Down"

The Ladybug Transistor - "Here Comes the Rain"

Bishop Allen - "Rain"

The Postmarks - "Looks Like Rain"

Mofro – “Pray for Rain”



Some classic cuts from country crooners:

Eddie Rabbitt - "I Love a Rainy Night"

The Judds - "Rockin' with the Rhythm of the Rain"

Willie Nelson - "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain"

Ronnie Milsap - "Smoky Mountain Rain"

Sing along but just move your mouth...ya know, just for fun.

Milli Vanilli - "Blame It On The Rain"

Two of the greatest blues artists of all time together on one song. Buddy Guy still puts on one of the best shows I've ever seen and Bonnie Raitt is to die for. Whew! I got tired just thinking about how much energy they exude on stage.

Buddy Guy with Bonnie Raitt - "Feels Like Rain"

This is on the soundtrack for High Fidelity. If you haven't seen the movie or read the book and if you can't quote Nick Hornby ad nauseum then you're doing yourself a great disservice.

The Beta Band – “Dry the Rain”

And last but not least two of my favorite V bands:

Velvet Underground - "Hey Mr. Rain"

Violent Femmes - "I Hear The Rain"

Those are some of my favorite rain influenced tunes. Care to share some of yours?

"I am an accident waiting to happen..."

"...you are the siren on the way to the scene."

Before I received Room Tones I had no idea who Chrisopher (No T) Blue was or how long he'd been around. I didn't know he'd been a major player in the west coast music scene for well over a decade and I didn't know he joined and fronted former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan's first post-Axl project, a reunion with his original band, 10 Minute Warning. And even though I like the band name a lot, I didn't know that after 10 Minute Warning gave up the ghost he went on to create a new group...Sensation Junkies. From all the things I didn't know comes something I do: all the disappointment and frustrations that Blue must have felt while working on all those efforts that never really took flight have given him the force needed to push forward and create a brilliant effort all on his own.

I first popped in Room Tones while on my way to the airport to retrieve his majesty and quickly discovered that I had to take it out as it was seriously harshing my mellow. I put on Stevie Wonder instead and forgot all about Chrisopher Blue because too much more of that and I'd have been blue indeed. And so the album met its fate with me before it ever got a chance to be heard until "Equanimity" shuffled up as I was shopping a few Saturdays ago. Yes, I am that asshole with the ear buds be-bopping down the aisles avoiding human interaction while annoyingly humming a tune you can't hear. Yep, that's me. I digress. When the track came on, Blue's Tom Waits-ish sandpaper vocals caught me off guard so I checked to see who was singing and remembered I didn't like him and nearly turned it off until I took note of the song title. I'm a word dork and equanimity is a word I love. So, I let it ride. And I'm glad I did because Room Tones is yet another case of a second chance serenade becoming a stone cold favorite. By the time "The Moon I Dream Of" was over I was head over heels for an artist I was ready to toss just a few moments earlier. The tune is very Jeff Buckley a la Grace so how could I not love it?

This album definitely won't be winning any feel good awards but most of the groundbreaking, original work I find timeless wouldn't. Sometimes it's gotta hurt to be good and I've come to see that the music I most often identify with and/or appreciate is born of pain. Shared pain is a priceless gift and Chrisopher is ready to give his away. The themes here are dark...at times lonely, confused and regretful but against Blues' sexy jazzy-blues blend backdrop the introspective lyrics come alive and tell a great story of triumph and hope if you're listening carefully enough. It's the story of how a down on his luck guy bounced back from the brink of disappointment and despair to score big with this solid collection of songs he created and collected along the way. Not everything is as it seems because that's about as feel good as it gets, right?

I'm 98% impressed with this disc. If he'd left off the 33 seconds of misplaced rage in "Outtake" I wouldn't have a complaint to make. The more I listen the more I love it so don't write him off on first listen even if it's not your cup of tea...play these tracks a few times and see if you agree:



Chrisopher Blue - "Equanimity"

Chrisopher Blue - "The Moon I Dream Of"

Chrisopher Blue - "What You Need"

Chrisopher Blue - "Ghost In The Night"

A mouse in the house with Rouse.

I don't have time for a proper post and therefore probably shouldn't be posting at all but over the weekend I finally got a chance to listen to Country Mouse, City House, the new album from Josh Rouse due out July 31st on Josh's personal label Bedroom Classics and since I'm still enjoying it today, I wanted to share. I've mentioned Josh a time or two but haven't really written about him yet and shame on me because he's pretty much the cat's pajamas. Even John Mayer thinks so for what it's worth.

True to form, this effort is very chill and builds upon his already well styled blend of alt-country pop. Recorded in just six days in Rouse's new adopted home of Spain there is a wonderful blend of some great classic toned throwback sounding ditties and one or two jazz infused numbers here that should make for a lot of fun when Josh, Paz & Co. finally decide to hit the road in support of the record. There are no dates scheduled on the books at this time but if you haven't seen Josh live, he has a great set. He and Paz have this amazing chemistry together on stage that is not to be missed...their voices are so completely complimentary to one another it's just perfection. Plus, they're too adorable for words so go to a show!

Check out these tracks from the CD and then hop on over to Aware to pre-order the disc and get yourself a bonus disc full of all sorts of Rouse-y goodness including three previously unreleased recordings.


Josh Rouse - "Pilgrim"

Josh Rouse - "Hollywood Bassplayer"

Josh Rouse - "Snowy"


And because Subtitulo was awesome and this song is appropriate for the season...

Josh Rouse - "Summertime"

Guilt Free Friday

This post was to have been last week’s Throwback Thursday entry but with all the hullabaloo surrounding The Sopranos finale I opted to kick it back a week. Clearly it didn’t make the cut this week either given that I was compelled to write about the Summer of Love yesterday. However, I think most would consider these songs guilty pleasures too and I’ve been itching to post this since I made a hair metal mix CD for the car last week in anticipation of the coming weekend and so without further adieu here you have it…Guilt Free Friday: Glam Metal Edition.

Given my penchant for mellow music and my deep country roots it’s always surprising to people when I whip out my mosh pit memorabilia from the time I split my head open at a White Zombie show. Guests always seem so shocked when they visit and come to the battered hair band section while perusing my CD collection. Dr. Feelgood has a huge crack in its jewel case. The black cover art on Appetite for Destruction is now weathered a nice shade of gray thanks to all the time it spent lying on the passenger seat of my ’68 Mustang while the top was down. The Hysteria liner notes have been poured over so many times that most of the writing has worn off. These discs were listened to and loved repeatedly. Oh yes…I was a glam metal girl. I’m just surprised that people seem so shocked to find #1 that I own them and #2 that they’re on display. I’m a music lover…that means I love all music. And just like people…if you love it, don’t be ashamed.

I told ya that to tell ya this…

It was rock’s era of nut huggin’ tight pants, Aqua Net big hair and extreme egos and for three days last weekend, Rocklahoma brought it all back in a big, big way. Yee Haw! I was super bummed to the max that I had to miss out on what I’m sure was mullet mayhem as some of the biggest hair bands of the 80’s and early 90’s converged in my general vicinity but it was unavoidable. O was home, work is kicking my ass and Gramps decided to make Father’s Day his and his alone by landing in the hospital on Sunday. Priorities, priorities. Sometimes I miss the days of not having any at all...like back when all these groups were popular. Even though we couldn’t make it, a few of our friends went and reported back that a rip roaring, hard rocking, lighter waving, joint passing good time was had by all.

Pryor has become Oklahoma’s place for musical gatherings and with the success of Country Fever and now Rocklahoma, I know there’s always next year. I just hope the line up is as good or better and I'm really glad that someone finally clued in to what I’ve been saying about Oklahoma for ages. Oklahoma is more than just OK; it’s prime for a great-big-revenue-generating-awesome-in-the-best-way music festival. We’ve got huge areas of open land (hell, my front yard alone is 120 acres…we could have one there), the friendliest people in the world and the perfect central location. Promoters…pay attention!

Rocklahoma coming to town got me in the mood to go on what ended up feeling like an archaeological dig through my collection of glamorous hair metal music for this week’s guilty pleasure posting. I’ve had so much fun listening to these songs again this week. I even rolled with the top down for added satisfaction. Relive it with me. You know you wanna.

Winger – “Seventeen”

Winger – “Headed For A Heartbreak”

They were made fun of by everyone from Mike Judge via Beavis & Butt-head to Lars Ulrich of Metallica as the quintessential wussy rock band and yet I still love these two songs. In fact, I turn them up. Loud.







Bon Jovi – “Livin’ on a Prayer”

Bon Jovi – “You Give Love a Bad Name”

Bon Jovi - "I'll Be There For You"

Jon was a cutie then and now. He’s aged remarkably well which is more than I can say for Rehab Richie. The boys in the band are still making it happen…only on the opposite end of the musical spectrum. Check out their latest release…country tinged “Lost Highway” here.

Def Leppard – “Pour Some Sugar On Me”

Def Leppard – “Photograph”

Another group that’s still doin’ the damn thing…Def Leppard put out an album of cover songs last year titled Yeah! and have yet to schedule the release date for tentatively titled Tales From The Sparkle Lounge but I’m sure die hard fans are frothing at the mouth to hear it. Besides the fact that they were a great band, they had a one armed drummer…that’s just fucking rad!




Firehouse – “Love of a Lifetime”

I won’t lie, I’m not now nor was I then a big Firehouse fan but I did love this song. Some sappy slow dance shit if I ever heard any. The hair in this photo is PERFECTION!








Ratt – “Round & Round”

Never were they huge superstars but they had some decent hits. They were a little before my time but this track is still deserving of a mention. Fun Fact: Tawny Kitaen got her “big break” in the metal world on the cover of their self titled EP and the album Out of the Cellar long before she bed and wed (in that order) Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale.

Speaking of Whitesnake…

Whitesnake – “Here I Go Again”

Whitesnake – “Is This Love”

David Coverdale swam out of Deep Purple in 1976 only to slither into Whitesnake a year later. No grass growin’ under that cat’s feet. Men still have wet dreams about Tawny Kitaen in the videos for these two songs I just know it.

Great White – “Once Bitten Twice Shy”

One hit wonders with a cover song. Pft.

Mötley Crüe – “Dr. Feelgood”

Mötley Crüe – “Without You”

Mötley Crüe – “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)”

Mötley Crüe – “Kickstart My Heart”

The definition of glam band, Mötley Crüe ruled the scene for years securing themselves as one of the most (if not the most) successful metal band of the era. It would take me ages to go into their history so I won’t. Go here to find out more. And if you’re a die hard, check into information about Vince Neil’s Motley Cruise that sets sail from Miami in January 2008. Slaughter & Skid Row will also be along for the ride. Too bad I can’t find my copy of Stick It To Ya or I’d include Slaughter’s “Fly To The Angels” just for fun.

Poison – “Nothin’ But A Good Time”

Poison – “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”

Poison – “Something To Believe In”

Poison – “Unskinny Bop”

I posted an album cover instead of a group photo because I can distinctly recall the fit that was thrown by my Grandpa upon seeing the cover once he realized that Poison was NOT a female group. He was appalled and I was elated…what a horrible kid I was! Much like Mötley before them they epitomized the glamorous side of rock at that time. Looking back now I have to wonder if they’re even the slightest bit humiliated that they look like drag queens on the cover of what would become one of the best selling albums and I'm even more intrigued why so many women found it attractive.

Skid Row – “18 & Life”

Skid Row – “Youth Gone Wild”

Skid Row – “I Remember You”

Skid Row – “Rattlesnake Shake”

Sebastian Bach was so, so pretty to me then in retrospect he was just a huge asshole with an ego to match. Blech! Most recently he was a cast member on VH1’s reality series Super Group and he’s still acting like a spoiled little bitch. Oh well…I’ll always love the music.

Warrant – “Cherry Pie”

Warrant – “Heaven”

Best known for their songs “Cherry Pie” and the video that followed featuring Bobbi Brown and the power ballad “Heaven” these guys are still making music today without lead singer Jani Lane who left the group in 2004 to pursue a solo career. Is a hair band still a hair band without the original frontman?

Tesla – “Song & Emotion”

Tesla – “Love Song”

Tesla – “Signs”

Tesla – “What You Give”

I spent most of the summers of my youth in Sacramento, California which seemed like it was a world away from Oklahoma and my cousin Eric introduced me to his favorite local band Tesla via The Great Radio Controversy and when “Love Song” came on I was hooked. I was 13 years old. They followed it up with the outrageously successful live album Five Man Acoustical Jam that I played until I wore it out. I still need to replace that disc. I also need to get my hands on a copy of their two disc collection of covers Real to Reel that dropped in May. I do so love me a good cover tune. The group is currently on tour through September and they’re even playing the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville tonight. I’d love to see that show.

Before it became the place of ultimate suckage where celebretards, no talent ass clowns and reality shows go to die, MTV was awesome. It was seriously all we watched once we finally got cable on the prairie. Gone were the cheesy ABC After School Specials…bring on the inappropriate content at 3pm and Headbanger’s Ball after dark, baby! MTV played an integral role in my youth and as much as it’s gone to hell in a hand basket now I wouldn’t feel right about posting all the songs I have here and not putting some videos out there to accompany them. These are classics to me…so fun to watch.

Warrant – “Cherry Pie”

Poison – “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”

I’ll never forget the first time I saw this video at my friend Stephanie’s house. We were mesmerized by it and immediately ran out to buy the album.

Guns N’ Roses – “Welcome To The Jungle”

Two words: Tawny Kitaen. Two more: Vehicular Acrobatics. And so began the lust of pre-pubescent boys everywhere.

Whitesnake – “Here I Go Again”

Not the most attractive of the hair bands but one of my favorite songs EVER to this day.

Tesla – “What You Give”

Check out the shiteous haircut on Tommy Lee. Ouch!

Motley Crue – “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)”

It’s a wonder Sebastian Bach wasn’t hospitalized with whiplash after they shot this one…

Skid Row – “18 & Life”

I especially love this clip because of the Burger King Countdown that precedes the actual video. It’s priceless and oh so fitting for this post today.

Great White – “Once Bitten Twice Shy”

The black and white crowd shots in this just kill me as I love to watch a crowd having the time of their life at a show. The chick that’s just overcome and losing her mind at about 4:29 is still a die hard Bon Jovi fan with a couple of grandkids right now I guarantee it.

Bon Jovi – “I’ll Be There For You”