All Back To My Place: Burning Wood Edition

The New York Times arrives at my door and I rifle through the pages until I get to the obituaries. (You're quite welcome for that lob. Now hit it out of the park.) With Mojo magazine, the first place I go to, admittedly with a bit more ease and less abuse, is "All Back To My Place."

This is a one page, 3-person, short interview where, as Mojo puts it, "the stars reveal the sonic delights guaranteed to get them going."

I love this column. I never thought I would care about what actress Elizabeth McGovern liked to listen to on a Sunday morning, or the first record Paul Rodgers ever bought, yet I am hooked everytime, regardless of who the three subjects might be.

We've been communicating on these pages for close to four years now, and many of the regular participators frequently use the chat box or simply leave comments about each daily post. Occasionally though, we are steered into uncharted musical waters. I am grateful for all suggestions. But, that still leaves hundreds who have said little to nothing. So I thought this would be a good place and time to share this information with each other. It'll give us all an opportunity to tell a little bit about ourselves, and offer up some musical suggestions we might have missed along the way. (Regulars, this is for you, too.)

My answers are below, though after four years of posting, I've probably already given up more than I should have.  I posted just the questions in the comments sections to make it easier for those willing to participate. Just cut and paste.

This is supposed to be fun, damn it!

What music are you currently grooving to?

I usually lock into something and stay there for a bit. I've been on a major Who kick, so much so, I thought I'd suffer through "It's Hard," their last piece of crap and found myself enjoying that, too. Also, the recent issue of Mojo features the Beach Boys on its cover, and includes a list of the "50 Best Beach Boys Songs," so I've been listening and reading along. And thanks to my friend Derek, who twice a year dusts off his Blue Oyster Cult records to rediscover just how underrated a band they are then tells me about it, I spent 3 hours yesterday listening to "Tyranny & Mutation," "Secret Treaties," "Agents Of Fortune" and "Cultosaurus Erectus." Derek, you are onto something.

What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favorite album?

I'm sure everyone will have a problem coming up with just one, but do your best. Maybe a "Ten Favorites Of All-Time" list will be in our future. For now,  the first thing that comes to my mind is "A Hard Day's Night." (British edition, of course.) I won't cheat and say "The Beatles Box." "A Hard Day's Night" gets the vote. I play it the most, still.

What was the first record you bought and where did you buy it?

I have two memories. It's either "Downtown" by Petula Clark at House Of Oldies on Bleecker Street or the "And I Love Her/If I Fell" picture sleeve (which I still have) at Village Oldies, also on Bleecker Street.

Which musician have you ever wanted to be?

James Booker, without all the baggage. Though I'd be satisfied as anyone that could sit at a piano and just play some songs. I play drums, and while I love it, I'd love to be able to sit a piano and bang out anything from "Stardust" to "Rocket Man," or something like Scott Joplin's "Solace."

What do you sing in the shower?

I don't. I just agonize over everything until I'm clean.

What is your favorite Saturday night record?

Something classic. I can recall on more than one occasion putting on Traffic's "John Barleycorn Must Die," or Aretha's "I Never Loved A Man." I need something familiar, tried and true. 

And your Sunday morning record?

At least twice a month, it's "Missa Luba." If you don't know it, you need to find it. It is a version of a Latin Mass based on traditional Congolese songs, sung by a Congolese children's choir. I can feel the eye rolls from some of you already, but it is truly uplifting and beautifully haunting. Other Sundays, I love Brother Jess's gospel show from New Orleans on WWOZ, or some Sam Cooke.






Your turn....