Top of the morning to you! It’s about 4:30am Central and another sun is almost on the rise. I noticed last night that the sky was dusk-to-dark at about 8:30pm, while just five weeks ago that wasn’t happening until after 9:00pm. Can autumn be so soon to arrive?!? I’ve yet to see a Cubs or White Sox game this year, although I have had the opportunity to see the Kane County Cougars many times (exciting ball…they’re a Class A team of Oakland’s and sell out almost every game with capacity seating at about 15,000…not bad for minor league ball!).

Music. This morning’s mail out to Jeff includes the following CDs:

MOTT THE HOOPLE: Greatest Hits (1976 CBS)

JOHNNY THUNDERS & THE HEARTBREAKERS: “L.A.M.F.” (1977) (1994 Jungle UK)

THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA: Higher Ground (RealWorld Records 2002)

CHAMPION JACK DUPREE “A Portrait Of” (Rounder Heritage 2000)

BUZZCOCKS (Merge 2003)

CAESARS: 39 Minutes Of Bliss (Astralwerks 2003)

SUPERCHUNK: Cup Of Sand (Merge 2003)

RICHARD HELL: Time (1974-1084) (Matador 2002)

VAN MORRISON: The Philosopher’s Stone (1998 Polydor)

VAN MORRISON: 1967 Bang Masters (1991 Sony)

MARK OLSON & THE CREEKDIPPERS: “December’s Child” (Dualtone 2002)

THE CHURCH: Parallel Universe (Thirsty Ear 2002)

This morning I was digging through my electronic files that pertain to Jeff, which would include almost every piece of correspondence exchanged since 1995. Yeah, someday I’m gonna write that book about Tar Hut Records and the indie music underground. While searching I came across an interesting mix CD I made Jeff two years ago. I actually remember the occasion because my CD-R was on the blink and it took several takes to burn this one off. At the time I made a note to Jeff that there was no reason for the particular song selection or order, and from the looks of it I can see that’s mostly true, although I did throw on some tunes from artists that Jeff is particularly fond of including Van, Bare Jr., Dan Baird, Green, Paul K., The Kinks (early), Cigar Store Indians, Cracker, and Ween.

1. Otis Redding: Respect (1967)

2. Elvis Costello & The Attractions: B Movie (1980)

3. Van Morrison: You Make Me Feel So Free (1979)

4. The Clash: Clampdown (1979)

5. Bare Jr.: I Wanna Live (1998)

6. Redd Kross: Saragon (1995)

7. Dan Baird: Cumberland River (1996)

8. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Fortunate Son (1969)

9. Green: I Love Her (1991)

10. Paul K: Slow It Down (1996)

11. The Kinks: Waterloo Sunset (1972)

12. Roy Orbison: The Comedians (1989)

13. Cigar Store Indians: This Town Ain’t Cool (1995)

14. Ramones: I Wanna Be Sedated (1977)

15. Fred Eaglesmith: 105 (1997)

16. The Who: Behind Blue Eyes (1971)

17. R.E.M.: Sitting Still (1983)

18. Bob Dylan: Neighborhood Bully (1983)

19. The Replacements: Can’t Hardly Wait (1987)

20. Cracker: Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now) (1992)

21. Iggy Pop: The Passenger (1977)

22. Ween: Piss Up A Rope (1996)

I just checked the mainstream news for the day on AOL and I see that Dylan has a new song out, perhaps associated with the movie he’s in but I didn’t explore any further. 50 Cent still rules the airwaves and this week’s Top 9 are…drum roll…

1. Fefe Dobson, ‘Take Me Away’

2. Beyoncé & Jay-Z, ‘Crazy in Love’

3. Cristian, ‘No Hace Falta’

4. Chingy, ‘Right Thurr’

5. R. Kelly, ‘Thoia Thoing’

6. Mya, ‘My Love Is Like… Wo’

7. Black Eyed Peas, ‘Where Is the Love?’

8. Fabolous, ‘So Into You’

9. Ashanti, ‘Rock Wit U’

I haven’t heard any of these songs, or any of these artist’s music. Apparently, Fefe is taking all the charts by storm. Interesting…

The Top 9 videos are…

1. Hilary Duff, ‘So Yesterday’

2. 50 Cent & Snoop Dogg, ‘P.I.M.P.’

3. Justin Timberlake, ‘Se?orita’

4. Christina & Lil’ Kim, ‘Can’t Hold…’

5. Foo Fighters, ‘Low’

6. Alien Ant Farm, ‘These Days’

7. Nelly & P. Diddy, ‘Shake Ya…

8. Black Eyed Peas, ‘Where Is the Love’

9. 50 Cent, ‘Many Men’

To the best of my knowledge this list is compiled by MTV. The only song I’ve heard is Foo Fighter’s Low. I do wish my cable provider offered MTV2, since I think I’d actually dig at least some of what they play on that station.

In other news, I picked up the new issue of Harp magazine (did I mention this yesterday?) and it’s another fine issue with features on the “Southern Rock Revival,” North Mississippi All-Stars, Drive-By-Truckers, Th’ Legendary Shack*Shakers, Kings of Leon, Steve Wynn, Scott Miller, My Morning Jacket, Patrick Park, Guided By Voices, and Liz Phair (Wow! Lots of rootsy/alt-country stuff going down in this issue). Pick it up at Borders or Tower…good reading. And if you subscribe you get to choose one free CD from a selection of six. I did so and picked Joe Henry’s new “Tiny Voices” which should complete my Joe Henry collection.

Welp, all for now. Gotta get me another cup of Dohack with lots of cream and sugar.

Rave on!

Dave