Thoughts on that first job

I was filling out my application form for social security today and it got me thinking about my first job. I worked in a machine shop and my duties included going around to the various lathe and drill machine stations and collect the waste shavings or chips but technically called swarf. Often times the chips were hot and flying off the machines. I would shovel them into a bin I rolled around with me. 1968 was an election year and the politicians significantly raised the minimum wage up to $1.60 per hour. I think I started out at $1.25 per hour but that was before I got my working papers because they could pay teenagers less then. I was at that job for a couple of years, trained at quality control inspection measuring the outputs using micrometers and eventually became a lathe operator. I was a Machinist's Mate in the Navy and some years later was a member of the machinist union. I never imagined back then that I would end my working career as a librarian on a college campus.

Backyard M Train

Sitting in the shade with a nice breeze, reading the words of Patti Smith with her singing People Have The Power from her Land compilation in my headphones. Inspirational. One of my favorite recording artists and authors.

I loved Just Kids too. Another great book and wonderful reading experience.

I really do love sitting in the backyard for reading and listening to music.

One Day In Your Life - Songs 1987

Songs 1987

A roots rock and jangle pop view of 1987.

1. 54-40 - One Day In Your Life (Show Me)
2. Blue Rodeo - Rose-Coloured Glasses (Outskirts)
3. The Connells - Scotty's Lament (Boylan Heights)
4. BoDeans - Dreams (Outside Looking In)
5. Guadalcanal Diary - Litany (Life Goes On) (2X4)
6. Fire Town - Places To Run (In The Heart Of The Heart Country)
7. The Northern Pikes - You Sold The Farm (Big Blue Sky)
8. John Hiatt - Your Dad Did (Bring The Family)
9. Grapes Of Wrath - O Lucky Man (Treehouse)
10. The Rainmakers - Small Circles (Tornado)
11. The Long Ryders - Spectacular Fall (Two Fisted Tales)
12. Paul Kelly & The Messengers - Dumb Things (Under The Sun)
13. R.E.M. - Finest Worksong (Document)
14. The Silencers - Painted Moon (A Letter From St. Paul)
15. The Bats - North By North (Daddy's Highway)
16. Close Lobsters - A Prophecy (Foxheads Stalk This Land)
17. 10,000 Maniacs - Like The Weather (In This Tribe)
18. Love Tractor - Cartoon Kiddies (This Ain't No Outer Space Ship)
19. Miracle Legion - Paradise (Surprise Surprise Surprise)
20. The dB's - Change With The Changing Times (The Sound Of Music)

Fadeaway - Songs 1986

First mix of my Songs 1986 series. This set is mostly Americana based jangle pop and power pop. This is some of the music I was spinning on the turntable that year.

1. BoDeans - Fadeaway (Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams)
2. Crowded House - Something So Strong (Outskirts)
3. R.E.M. - Fall On Me (Life's Rich Pageant)
4. 54-40 - I Go Blind (54-40)
5. Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes (So)
6. The Chills - Kaleidoscope World (Kaleidoscope World)
7. Yo La Tengo - The Cone Of Silence (Ride The Tiger)
8. The Del-Lords - Heaven (Johnny Comes Marching Home)
9. The Rainmakers - Downstream (The Rainmakers)
10. The Beat Farmers - Riverside (Van Go)
11. Rubber Rodeo - Heartbreak Highway (Heartbreak Highway)
12. Lone Justice - I Found Love (Shelter)
13. Pretenders - Don't Get Me Wrong (Get Close)
14. Paul Kelly & The Messengers - Before Too Long (Gossip)
15. Let's Active - In Little Ways (Big Plans For Everybody)
16. The Feelies - Slow Down (The Good Earth)
17. The Smithereens - Blood And Roses (Especially For You)
18. True West - Hand Of Fate (Hand Of Fate)
19. Guadalcanal Diary - Michael Rockefeller (Jamboree)
20. The Triffids - Wide Open Road (Born Sandy Devotional)

The Man Who Fell To Earth

I immediately went out saw the film The Man Who Fell To Earth star starring David Bowie in 1976. I saw it a couple of times in the 70's and then again much later.  So the first time I saw this was 40 years ago. I'm due to see it again.

It was a very strangely weird film and David Bowie was wonderful as the alien. Buck Henry was good in it to as was Candy Clark. I had always hoped Bowie would do more films than he had done in his life.

It's a long movie and there are long surreal stretches without dialog. Like other films that Nicolas Roeg has directed... it's not for everybody. 

Over the years the film developed a cult following. I was already familiar with some of the work of the director such as Walkabout from 1971 which I really liked and Don't Look Now from 1973. 

Another Day - Songs 1971

Mix #11 in my Songs 1971 series. More classic rock, some blues and funk.

1. Paul McCartney - Another Day (Ram)
2. The Faces - Maybe I'm Amazed (Long Player)
3. Ringo Starr - It Don't Come Easy (It Don't Come Easy)
4. Loggins & Messina - Nobody But You (Sittin' In)
5. Little Feat - Strawberry Flats (Little Feat)
6. B.B, King - How Blue Can You Get? (Live At Cook County Jail)
7. Hot Tuna - Candyman (First Pull Up Then Pull Down)
8. Howlin' Wolf - Wang Dang Doodle (The London Sessions)
9. Jimi Hendrix - Freedom (The Cry Of Love)
10. Funkadelic - Back In Our Minds (Maggot Brain)
11. The Isley Brothers - Love The One You're With (Givin' It Back)
12. Grand Funk Railroad - Gimme Shelter (Survival)
13. Hawkwind - Silver Machine (In Search Of Space)
14. The Rolling Stones - Moonlight Mile (Sticky Fingers)
15. The Kinks - 20th Century Man (Muswell Hillbillies)
16. Electric Light Orchestra - 10538 Overture (The Electric Light Orchestra)
17. Yes - I've Seen All Good People (The Yes Album)

Draggin' The Line - Songs 1971

More classic rock and soul music from 1971.

1. Tommy James - Draggin' The Line (Christian Of The World)
2. The James Gang - Walk Away (Thirds)
3. The Hollies - Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress (Distant Light)
4. T. Rex - Hot Love (Hot Love)
5. Paul McCartney - Too Many People (Ram)
6. The Faces - Stay With Me (A Nod Is As Good As A Wink... To A Blind Horse)
7. Led Zeppelin - Black Dog (Led Zeppelin IV)
8. The Doors - The WASP (L.A. Woman)
9. The Who - Behind Blue Eyes (Who's Next)
10. The Isley Brothers - Fire And Rain (Givin' It Back)
11. Isaac Hayes - Theme From Shaft (Shaft)
12. The Temptations - Smiling Faces Sometimes (Sky's The Limit)
13. Funkadelic - Maggot Brain (Maggot Brain)
14. James Brown - Hot Pants Pt. 1 (Hot Pants)