[Otclassof1973] A ROLLING STONE GATHERS

[Marvin A. Segall]

First and foremost here's hoping everyone, friends, family and loved ones are all safe in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (or Corrina as Laura Bush seems to insist - I wasn't going to Bush Bash, because with so much to choose from, where does one start? Too late, I already played the Corrina card).  Seriously, I hope all you OTHSers living in the uncomfortable wetness in the gulf states are high and dry.  

You know whom you are, talk among yourselves.

On a MUCH lighter note: this part is for Patti (the rest of you play along on your new iPod Nano).  Guy (remember me mentioning Guy a while back?), he's the guy in my office who's collecting all the Rolling Stones albums, well he just gave me some more CDs to download. (Side Note: Guy's also the one who schooled me on pronouncing Keith Richards' first name as Keef).  My iPod compilation file now runs chronologically from 1964's UK release version of the album The Rolling Stones through the just released A Bigger Bang and I have to say I've truly come to appreciate Keef's singing, particularly on the song Happy, from 1972's Exile on Main Street and Before They Make Me Run, from 1978's Some Girls.  Patti, hand to G-d, there just aren't enough superlatives for the gem that is Before They Make Me Run! 

What do you know?  An old dog CAN learn new tricks.

I've managed to narrow my playlist down to a mere 134 (yes 134) songs (and still counting).  That's nearly nine hours of nothin' but Stones, baby.  (What's that in dog years? Clark? Russ? Anyone?).  Some songs are duplicates so I may have a song in its original album version, a live concert recording, outtakes and/or original mono mixes (the early to mid 60's were still very much the domain of mono recordings - because top 40 AM radio wasn't broadcast in stereo - do the math).  I did mention that Guy found a lot of Russian pressings for most of the existing albums and these include a veritable treasure trove of "Bonus Tracks."  Bonus Tracks is where we scored all those alternate song versions.

I don't think I can even begin to make a list of my favorites; but if push came to shove, Satisfaction is definitely my all time #1 Stones song (no contest), followed by...  Before They Make Me Run, with my man Keef on lead vocals.  Hey, I believe I already said the song was a gem.

When I'm ridin' round the world
And I'm doin' this and I'm signin' that,*

Marvin

* Mick Jagger/Keith Richards - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

PS/ I've mentioned iPods so much I have to pass along this great spoof.  Check it out:

http://www.nytimes.com/video/html/2005/06/29/technology/highbandwidth/windowsmedia/20050629_GUEST_VIDEO.html

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After all is said and done,
I gotta move, I had my fun.
Let us walk before they make me run.
Mick Jagger/Keith Richards - Before They Make Me Run