Dave & Donna's

Dave and Donna had us over yesterday for a Saturday evening hang out with Jimmy and his son Sonny who were in town for the weekend. No Cassie as usual. It was great seeing Jim and his little two-year-old was very cute and fun to be around. We were over there from a little after 5 pm until about 8:30. There had been rain expected but it turned out to be a very beautiful evening weatherwise. When we first arrived Donna said we would be eating inside but by dinner time we were all outside eating.

Dinner was simple. Dave ordered pizza and wings and a salad. A mix of pizzas from Mr. Pizza and La Nova. Wings were regular and BBQ. Folks brought desserts... pies and of course Donna had an assortment of his cookies laid out. We enjoyed every bite of the food.

There was a nice group but not as crowded as usual. Jimmy and Sonny. Dave and Donna. Mary. Amy and Doug with the two teenage girls. Eric and Amy and their little one Ivy. And Tom and Diane. Sonny and Ivy played together nicely.

No pictures. It's amazing how many people we know do not take any pictures of diners, parties and actually any gathering of friends and families at their homes. There was only one time when phones came out for pictures and that was a staged shot of Jimmy with Sonny standing alongside of Eric with Ivy. The two sons with the two grandkids. Sadly they are the only grandchildren for both of those families. One and done. 

My City Was Gone - Songs 1984 FV

Still more songs from albums in my collection released in 1984. This new mix from that time has a distinctive anti-war feel to it but still hits, favorites and deep cuts running about an hour and a half and part of my Final Version series.

Pretenders in the pic.

My City Was Gone - Songs 1984 FV

1. My City Was Gone - Pretenders
2. Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
3. Two Tribes - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
4. 5 Minutes (R-R-R Radio Mix) - Bonzo Goes To Washington
5. The Lebanon - The Human League
6. If I Had A Rocket Launcher - Bruce Cockburn
7. Sixty Eight Guns - The Alarm
8. When The Generals Talk - Midnight Oil
9. Bombers - Gary Numan & Tubeway Army
10. In The Echo Chamber - Hoodoo Gurus
11. General Public - General Public
12. Waterfront - Simple Minds
13. The Unforgettable Fire - U2
14. Peace In Our Time - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
15. 99 Luftballons - Nena
16. Nelson Mandela - The Specials
17. Wings of a Dove - Madness
18. Original Sin - INXS
19. Blasphemous Rumours - Depeche Mode
20. A Pagan Place - The Waterboys

The Limits We Set - Late Night FV

What are the limits we set when it comes to playing songs in a crowded bar. Actually I had a lot of limits and there were many songs and groups from this same time period that I refused to ever play. Now that would make an interesting list. Groups from the late 70's to mid 80's that I never played in the sound booth. Well, that's another post.

Here are another set of songs that I did play... regularly.

The Limits We Set - Late Night FV

1. The Limits We Set – The English Beat, 1981
2. Watching the Detectives – Elvis Costello, 1977
3. Look Back in Anger – David Bowie, 1979
4. Brave Boys Keep Their Promises – The Teardrop Explodes, 1980
5. Messages – A Flock of Seagulls, 1982
6. Radio Silence – Thomas Dolby, 1982
7. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da – The Police, 1980
8. The Metro – Berlin, 1982
9. Speak Like a Child – The Style Council, 1983
10. Hot House Baby – Moon Martin, 1980
11. I Thought I Heard a Heartbeat – The Inmates, 1980
12. Mercury Blues – David Lindley, 1981
13. Don’t Worry Baby – Los Lobos, 1984
14. Get That Girl – Joe Jackson, 1979
15. When I Write the Book – Rockpile, 1980
16. Someday, Someway – Marshall Crenshaw, 1982
17. Keep in Touch – The Romantics, 1980
18. Tenderness – General Pubic, 1984
19. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics, 1983
20. New Song – Howard Jones, 1984
21. In A Big Country – Big Country, 1983
22. The Walls Came Down – The Call, 1983
23. Cities – Talking Heads, 1979
24. Underground – Men At Work, 1981
25. Grinding Halt – The Cure, 1979
26. Mad World – Tears For Fears, 1983

Dinner for Two - The Terrace

It was a Thursday evening and we decided to go out for dinner. We considered several places including going down to Canalside and almost went to the new restaurant in the Richardson Complex but because it was such a nice day we went over to The Terrace in Delaware Park. We didn't have reservations and we couldn't get a table on the patio. That wasn't so bad because they still had the winter protection up and it wasn't as nice as it would be when in full summer mode out there. We had a good table in the main dining room and the place was very busy.

One of the reasons we wanted to go there was do have some pub food sandwiches and we did good. Becky got a shrimp po' boy with fries and I had a delicious chicken sandwich with fries. I had a couple of nice Lunch IPAs on tap from Maine Brewery.

We had to park down the street a couple of blocks and had to walk through the park on an angle past the rose garden to get to the restaurant. The park was very crowded and we really enjoyed that walk. It was nice on the way back too. There was also a very large crowd at the Albright-Knox because of the free live music that they now have every Thursday evening. We thought about going in to check it out but it was getting near the end of the music by the time we were done with dinner. Maybe another time.

Cooling The Medium - Songs 1984 FV

Another reworking of an old mix of songs from albums in my collection released in 1984. Lots of New Wave hits, other favorites and deep cuts and part of my Final Version series of songs by year mixes.

Martha & The Muffins in the pic.

Cooling The Medium - Songs 1984 FV

1. Cooling The Medium - Martha & The Muffins
2. New Song - Howard Jones
3. Going Down To Liverpool - The Bangles
4. Dear Prudence - Siouxsie & The Banshees
5. Robert De Niro's Waiting - Bananarama 
6. A Place In My Heart - Orange Juice
7. Are We Ourselves? - The Fixx
8. Tonight & Tina Turner - David Bowie
9. Better Be Good To Me - Tina Turner
10. Smooth Operator - Sade
11. Cherry Oh Baby - UB40
12. Tenderness - General Public
13. Lovers In A Dangerous Time - Bruce Cockburn
14. Perfect Skin - Lloyd Cole & The Commotions
15. Now It's My Turn - Berlin
16. There Is Mine - Heaven 17
17. Love Comes Tumbling - U2
18. No Explanation - The Church
19. The Greatness and Perfection of Love - Julian Cope
20. Here Comes Cowboys - The Psychedelic Furs
21. What Difference Does It Make? - The Smiths
22. The Killing Moon - Echo & The Bunnymen
23. New Sensations - Lou Reed

Got Trash

Becky made arrangements with the Got Trash company to remove a lot of stuff from our third floor. The price was reasonable considering how many things had to be carried down the stairs and out to a truck in the driveway. The two guys doing the lifting were great but they did get quite the workout. 

The items carried down the stairs included two CD shelves, one small and one large, my old computer table, the desk from the studio, the old sewing machine, an old book shelf and the treadmill which fortunately folded up in half. Then there was a stack of old paintings done on wood panels that Becky wanted to get rid of. They were several trips.

We had cleared out the stairway landing that had been a storage area and we took down all of the artwork on the walls along the stairs and out the door. Cleared off lots of pottery too just to make sure there were no accidents. They came around 10:30 in the morning and were done in about an hour. Everything that was coming down was marked.

When they were finished and sitting in the front seat of the truck writing up the bill I had gone to the refrigerator and got two plastic bottles of some cold water. They were both very excited and thankful to get that water. The look on their faces was priceless. They certainly deserved it.

The Main Thing - Night Chill FV

And the main thing of this mix is the groove. Another Final Version Night Chill mix. It has an 80's feel flowing throughout along with some newer vibes too. Starts off with that Roxy Music classic and then gets into some remixes.

The Main Thing - Night Chill FV

1. The Main Thing – Roxy Music 1982
2. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (Hot Remix) – Eurythmics,1983
3. Chandelier (Plastic Plates Remix) – Sia, 2014
4. Poker Face (Jody den Broeder Remix) – Lady Gaga, 2008
5. Personal Jesus (The Stargate Remix) – Depeche Mode, 2011
6. It’s a Sin (Disco Mix) – Pet Shop Boys, 1987
7. Everything Zen (The Lhasa Fever Mix) – Bush, 1997
8. Not Great Men (Phones Extended Version) – Gang of Four, 2005
9. Two Tribes (808State Remix) – Frankie Goes To Hollywood, 1984
10. Fine Time – New Order, 1988
11. French Disko – Stereolab, 1995
12. The Dance – Rhythim is Rhythim, 1987
13. Playgirl (Zombie Nation Remix) – Ladytron, 2002
14. Billie Jean (Mister Vibes Remix) – Easy Star All-Stars, 2012
15. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (The Garage Version) – Inner Life, 1981
16. Pop Life (Extended Version) – Prince, 1985

Hermitage Piano Trio

This was our last chamber music concert of the season and we had a surprise. It was an amazing performance especially when we learned that this group was a last minute fill in for the original string quartet that had illness issues and could not make it to Buffalo for the concert. The Hermitage Piano Trio, who are scheduled for next season, agreed to come to town and perform. The piano player had to fly in from Europe and arrived earlier today.

They performed a wonderful concert with a Russian feel. We enjoyed every moment and glad they were able to come to town and perform for us.

Got home in time to catch the end of the Sixers game... another amazing performance.

Don't Lose Control - Late Night FV

It's late night. Don't lose control. At least not on the dance floor. We know what that's like and I'm watching from the sound booth. I'm gonna play something next even more wild.

Sound booth memories.

Don't Lose Control - Late Night FV

1. Don’t Lose Control – Material, 1982
2. Big Business – David Byrne, 1981
3. The Space Between – Roxy Music, 1982
4. Telegraph – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, 1983
5. A Forest – The Cure, 1980
6. Anyone Out There – Duran Duran, 1981
7. I Ran – A Flock of Seagulls, 1982
8. Danseparc (Everyday It's Tomorrow)  – Martha & The Muffins, 1983
9. Masquerade – Berlin, 1983
10. Cambodia – Kim Wilde, 1982
11. Fireball – Alan Vega, 1980
12. A Song from Under the Floorboards – Magazine, 1980
13. I Zimbra – Talking Heads, 1979
14. Bloodsport – Killing Joke, 1980
15. Masoko Tanga – The Police, 1978
16. Concrete Jungle – The Specials, 1979
17. Papa’s Got a Brand New Pigbag – Pigbag, 1982
18. Helicopter – XTC, 1979
19. Precious – Pretenders, 1980
20. Trains, The Vapors, 1980
21. She Blinded Me with Science – Thomas Dolby, 1982
22. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. – A-Ha, 1985

Thin Line - Songs 1984 FV

Another reworked mix of songs from albums in my collection released in 1984. Mostly deep cuts and some interesting cover tunes along the way.

Pretenders in the pic.

Thin Line - Songs 1984 FV

1. Thin Line Between Love and Hate - Pretenders
2. God Only Knows - David Bowie
3. Sea of Love - Robert Plant
4. Let's Stay Together - Tina Turner
5. Purple Rain - Prince
6. Your Love is King - Sade
7. The Comedians - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
8. Mother's Spiritual - Laura Nyro
9. Aimless Love - John Prine
10. Footloose - Chris Smither
11. Maybe The Poet - Bruce Cockburn
12. Borrowed Time - John Lennon
13. Sad Songs (Say So Much) - Elton John
14. The Power of Love - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
15. Ivo - Cocteau Twins
16. How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths
17. The Big Music - The Waterboys
18. The Arcane - Dead Can Dance
19. Gravity's Angel - Laurie Anderson
20. A Sort of Homecoming - U2