Chrome

Vast collection of electric boots/mohair suits inspired Elton John to write Benny and the Jets!

His son, Jimmy, plays shortstop for the Phillies.

Buddha's Little Finger - Victor Pelevin For those unfamiliar with this modern Russian writer, he's well worth checking out. A mix of black humor and political satire (esp. Russian politics) with just a little science fiction/speculative fiction added in.

On James Spaulding's Monk CD -- Brilliant Corners -- he does 4 tunes on flute (and 4 on alto). Very nice stuff here.

... he's Norah Jones' father. (Okay, I'm sure everyone saw that coming, but I couldn't resist!)

Anyway, I recently read something interesting on the whole idea of being saved/born again as a "get out of jail free card." If I'm understanding correctly, there's a difference between "forgiveness" and "getting out of jail," so to speak ... that is, god can forgive you, but that doesn't eliminate the consequences of your sins here on earth ... god can forgive you, but also "support" your secular punishment.

Actually, I would think the "sincerity" test would be the one he passed ... wasn't he completely sincere about what he was doing?

Does Rev. Jim Jones count? (I'm not sure of the difference between "born again" and "saved," but wasn't he at least the former?)

New York Times Book Review, Wilson Quarterly, Entertainment Weekly ( )

Sigh ... I hate when a post gets so much action overnight (when I can't post) that I don't even know where to start responding in the morning. Anyway, my basic feelings on religion are pretty close to my feelings on race, etc.: There's a fine line between taking pride in who you are/what you believe and xenophobia. And when it comes to religion, especially any kind of "organized" religion, this problem is inevitable. If one believes that one's religion is right, it almost necessarily means the other religions (or no religion) is wrong ... that's the very nature of most religions ... the jews are the "chosen" people, if you don't accept christ you'll go to hell, etc. ... it's all "you have to do it my way or you're wrong." And once you get that "I'm right, you're wrong" mindset going about religion, it's easy for it to expand to other areas, as usually happens. And, FWIW, I'm not an atheist.

Queen Latifah croons to new crowd Queen Latifah changes from rap to a traditional sound on her new album. Associated Press File Photo By Elysa Gardner USA Today She's been a hip-hop icon, an entrepreneur and an Oscar-nominated actress. Now Queen Latifah is trying on a new hat: traditional crooner. On Sept. 28, Latifah will release her first CD featuring all sung vocals. "The Dana Owens Album," which reintroduces the 34-year-old Jersey girl by her given name, includes pop, jazz and R&B classics such as "Lush Life," "I Put a Spell on You," "Hard Times" and "Hello Stranger." AOL First Listen premiered two additional tracks Tuesday: "California Dreamin'," made famous by the Mamas and the Papas, and "Baby Get Lost," previously a hit for Dinah Washington. "I've always loved to sing, and I've always wanted to do an album like this," Latifah says. "Even on my rap albums, you can hear the influence of jazz and big band and reggae and all forms of music, though I could only sing on the hooks." It was Latifah's movie career rather than any specific musical projects that led to "Owens." "I got a lot of requests after "Livin' Out Loud,'" she says, referring to the 1998 film in which she played a lounge singer. Then came "Chicago," in which Latifah got more praise for an even flashier singing role, Mama Morton. The born-again singer is set to appear on "The Today Show" and says she would eventually like to tour "if the album is successful." In the meantime, Latifah has her plate full with a medley of movie outings. On Sept. 3, her production company Flava Unit will unveil its first feature, "Cookout." "It's the story of an athlete who graduates college and goes into professional basketball, and how everything changes in his life. It culminates at this big barbecue, or cookout, as we call them." Latifah will appear in "Taxi," due later this fall, and "Beauty Shop," a spinoff of the "Barbershop" films.

Kylie jazzes it up By Natacha Butler August 25, 2004 PERKY songbird Kylie Minogue is set to reinvent herself once again ditching sexy pop to record an album of smooth, sultry, jazz tunes. Smooth ... Kylie plans to get sultry and refined. The Chocolate singer also plans to perform the grown-up songs in intimate "smoky clubs" rather than sell-out arenas. According to British tabloid The Sun the 36-year-old star feels the time may have come to slip out of the micro-minis and take her career in a more classy direction. "Kylie will release a greatest-hits album first but then a jazzy album. She wants a more grown-up sound to reflect how she has matured," a friend said. "She’s still going for a sexy look but is 36 and wants to be more refined." Kylie, who has dabbled with live jazz versions of Santa Baby and Better The Devil You Know, has already been busy working on some tracks for the forthcoming album. "Kylie has recorded a few tracks ... and they sound brilliant. Her fans are in for a very pleasant surprise," the friend said. The new direction is sure to be welcomed by her legion of fans but it may put the chart-topper's relationship with French hunk Olivier Martinez under more strain. Workaholic Kylie recently revealed she planned to make more time for Olivier after the actor was spotted cavorting in St Tropez with shapely actress Michelle Rodriguez. Olivier, 38, and Michelle, 26, who co-starred in S.W.A.T last year, have been pictured having fun together jet-skiing and partying on P. Diddy's yacht in the glamorous French seaside resort. Kylie denied reports the relationship was on the rocks but conceded she needed to be around her Gallic lover more in the future. "I've decided to make some changes so that I can make sure there's time for me and Olivier," she said. Kylie must be hoping her foray into the jazz world doesn't clash with her sizzling hot French affair. NEWS.com.au

I've got a disc with just him and McCoy Tyner, I think it's called "One on One," and that's really nice. Two masters at work!

I'm another MMW fan who isn't quite sold on Tonic ... it's interesting (?) to compare that particular to CD to those of another modern piano trio -- The Bad Plus. Medeski's organ playing really works for me, but listening to the BP's pianist shows what Medeski DOESN'T bring to the table as a piano player on this kind of stuff. Did that make sense? I love MMW's Bemsha Swing/Lively Up Yourself medley on It's a Jungle In Here ... I'm coincidentally listening to this disc right now.

I don't have time for a full repsonse, but I guess it depends on how you're looking at things ... you weren't, in fact, JUST pointing out the good that Christians are doing ... you also had to take a "mean-spirited" swipe at atheists, too. I didn't mean to actually defend Take 5 so much as point out your apparent hypocrisy here.

Haven't read The Unburied ... but I've got his "Betrayals" on the old bookshelf waiting for some day ... much like my CDs, my books keep piling around the house but ... I ... just ... can't... stop ... buying!

There are plenty of people of all religions AND no religion who do good in this world ... no one group should get any special billing. Why do you feel the need to take a swipe at people who have different beliefs than you (atheists)? Aren't you doing just what you're castigating Take 5 for?

Eric: Have you read anything by Arturo Pérez-Reverte? He does the literary/mystery thing pretty well, especially in The Club Dumas ... Charles Palliser's The Quincunx might also appeal to you:

Thanks for the input ... I just went ahead and ordered it from BMG!

On the Talking Heads thread, someone (a younger someone) was discussing 1980s music nostalgia ... got me thinking about the Rolling Stones' list of the top 100 albums of that decade ... here's the top 20: 1. London Calling - The Clash 2. Purple Rain - Prince & The Revolution 3. The Joshua Tree - U2 4. Remain In Light - Talking Heads 5. Graceland - Paul Simon 6. Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen 7. Thriller - Michael Jackson 8. Murmur - REM 9. Shoot Out The Lights - Richard And Linda Thompson 10. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman 11. Get Happy - Elvis Costello & The Attractions 12. It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us - Public Enemy 13. Diesel And Dust - Midnight Oil 14. So - Peter Gabriel 15. Let It Be - The Replacements 16. 1999 - Prince 17. Synchronicity - The Police 18. Dirty Mind - Prince 19. New York - Lou Reed 20. Pretenders - Pretenders FWIW, even though I usually consider "pop" music from that decade pretty cringe-worthy, I still can enjoy CDs 1, 4, 8, 11, 13, 16 and 20.

I'm a writer/editor for a big corporation, and we get this stuff from execs all the time ... and have to publish it this way. A great example is the "word" learnings to refer to stuff that's been learned through research, etc.

Does anyone know anything about this Verve CD, recorded in 1969 w/a European rhythm section? I'm tempted to pick it up from BMG, and AMG raves about it.

Anyone have the Benny Golson disc "That's Funky"? The lineup is Golson, Nat Adderley, Monty Alexander, Ray Drummond and Marvin Smith and they get funky on BN classics Moanin', Sidewinder and Blues March ... along with Work Song, two versions of Mack the Knife, and a Golson original called Mississippi Windows. It's from 2000 on Arkadia and kicks serious butt.

Regarding Lazy Afternoon, while I like the album as a whole, there's the one song with a harp or something on it (I don't have the disc with me) that I find really annoying ... not the song itself, but the harp.

How 'bout Cecil Bridgewater? I've only heard him as a sideman, but I like what I've heard.