The Largest Vinyl Collection In The World

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There is nothing that sounds more perfect to me than dropping that needle on an old dusty wax record. The nicks and pops are just as much part of the music than the guitar or drum. The ups and down are unmatched. Its been an obsession of mine now for years ever since I bought my first ever album, J Giles' Freeze Frame. It steamed from there and right now I have over 3 thousand records in my collection. But my collection looks feeble in front of Paul Mawhimmey's enormous collection. With a collection of over a million records that altogether is worth over 50 million dollars he has collected for many years while working as a salesperson and keeping a keen eye open for the rarest of records. He has been bit by the vinyl bug and has a deep love of music and what music was instead of what it is today, fake and watered down, the same way I am and feel. Unfortunately is trying to sell his collection but can not find anyone that has the same obsession or cares enough for music to part with what he has dedicated his life to. I personally would only treasure such a collection if only I could afford to purchase it. There's only a select few people who still has the same heart that people like Paul still has and listens to music for the soul and passion and not for the almighty dollar and meaningless. I fully agree with Paul when he talks about how vinyl has a much superior sound than cd's. With all the digitalization of music we have lost all richness and soul of what the superior productions of yesteryear mastered. When listening to a vinyl record you can be taken right inside the studio with the band and feel like your actually part of the music. I have a deep respect for Paul from just watching this video and respects his desire for music probably just as much or more than anyone else can. It would be great to interview this musical encyclopedia. Much respect for the man with the same great love for music that I carry around all day everyday.

George Loves His Whiskey

Drinking songs with old time Country go hand in hand, like two peas in a pod, old time Country Musicians wrote drinking songs just as much as Irish Musicians. Some even lived the life of a drunken songster. Breaking the law after a drug infused night of playing at a rowdy honky tonk was an every night occurrence for some. Others escaped johnny law by the skin of their fingers. George Jones are one of those drunken Country musicians that not only sing the life of a drunkard but also lived many years with the bottle in his hand. At one point in his life he was picked up for drinking and driving, not that drinking and driving is such a far fetched arrest but on a lawnmower it was. He was on his way to the liquor store an apparently driving at 2mph was much quicker. But for years he battled the bottle, many times losing and sinking back into the depths of the sea of whiskey. This song Tennessee Whiskey has got to be on the top of my list of favorite George Jones songs, comparing women to alcohol was probably the only way George could compare women, two of his favorite things wraped up into one song. A true musician friend of mine does a beautiful cover of this song, Steve Abbott can do justice to this song, next time you see him play at Walkhams Gate Pub playing his heart out on stage request this song, step back and be amazed. Steve's band with Bob Little Just BS are soon releasing their first album so keep an eye out and pick it up. I listened to the master copy yesterday and was blown away with the quality of production done by Bob himself. Well done bys'.

The Altamont Disaster

It was a massive disaster from the beginning. They should have seen it from afar and put an end to it before it even started. 300 thousand drug induced people flocked to the Altamont raceway in California. The concert was free and was said to be the Woodstock of the west. The main card and most of the violence happen during The Rolling Stones set. Most people connect Altamont with just The Stones while dismissing the others that were on the card as well such as Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, and The Flying Burrito Brothers. The Grateful Dead were also set to be on the card but backed out after hearing of the extreme violence that was taking place in the crowd. The concert was filmed for a later Stones documentary titled Gimmie Shelter. The Stones hired The Hells Angels as security which might have been a huge mistake considering their don't give a shit attitude. As soon as one person pushed forward towards the stage there was no problem about pushing back. Which lead to a accidental death to a young man. Three other deaths also happen during the concert, two from a hit and run by a car and the other by drowning in a river bank. Four child births were recorded at the event as well. But the most famous and widely talked about incident was the death of Meredeth Hunter, who was murdered in front of the stage after trying to get on stage. Altamont has gone down in history as the biggest mistake in rock and roll history and is synonymous with rage, anger, death and pain. Sympathy For The Devil is the perfect song for this concert. He seemed to be in the crowd that night with the concert goers. At the end of the video you can see The Hells Angels dragging a lifeless body onto the stage while Mick keeps repeating "get down, get on down" and it still sends chills through the spine of me and I am sure many others.

Gallager's Mandolin Blues

Undeniable talent. Unrelenting force. Underrated musician. Rory Gallager never really got his come up ins. He was a driving force in the 70's blues boom alongside Johnny Winter, BB King, Albert King, Allman Brothers, etc. His talent was respected by a cult following of fans and other well respected fellow musicians such as Keith Richards, Bono, Pete Townsted, Thin Lizzy, as well as many others that caught onto his talent in the early stages of his playing career. His sweat was filled with acid, literally, and so was his voice. He spat out lyrics like he grew up in the deep woods of the delta, a poor black man with nothing but the blues to his name. But in reality he came from a well off family in Ireland and never really knew about hardships and pain but he can portray it in a song through his rough and bluesy voice. Here he plays the blues through a mandolin with the greatest of ease. He wails on it like it was his last song and he needed to tell the crowd listening what he was feeling at the time for one last time. I personally think he does just that and I just love the simpleness in this song. Just Rory with a mandolin, minimal bass and minimal drums. Its not much but says alot.

From The Dirt In The Gutter To The Light Of The Stage

If there was ever a Cinderella story for the blues RL Burnside wrote the book. There has to be hundreds of starting off from nothing and than being recognized for brilliance in the world of the blues, but nothing compares to Burnside's story. He almost never made it and if he didn't it probably wouldn't have mattered. He did what he loved doing all his life and that made for a wonderful life considered by him. Growing up in the backwoods of the delta and playing around great musicians he never really cut an album until later in his life. He was rediscovered by a dj who started mixing his albums at shows and it helped burst him into a whole new level of popularity. RL's music is a whole new sound of riff infused blues that is a close cousin to punk. Its hard and in your face, there's no 5 thousand dollar guitar or 3 grand amps. Just RL and a old beat up guitar and one speaker, its all he needs and he makes it sound like dirty blues, blues that will make your skin crawl and ears listen. RL is a wonderful talent that will be missed in the blues world but its great to see that he wasn't left there in the gutter, that he was found and recognized for his talent.

The Late John Prine Blues

In regards for songwriting, to me you can't get much better than John Prine. His style and flow and usage of metaphors are simply amazing. He flows from line to line so effortlessly. His songs paint a picture with such ease and comfort, I can listen to John Prine for hours at a time and never get sick of his style. One of my all time favorite of Prine's songs has got to be The Late John Garfield Blues. Its a really catch song and the lyrics are so intelligent and just full of John Prine wisdom. This version is especially beautiful since Prine is paired with an angelic voiced girl that plays the violin gorgeously in the middle of the song. Its a sweet icing on the cake of a wonderful song. I first heard The Late John Garfield Blues on one of my favorite albums of all time, John's album Diamonds In The Rough. It is filled with not so popular but my favorite Prine songs such as Sour Grapes, Everybody, The Torch Singer, Billy The Bum, Clocks and Spoons and The Frying Pan. But it also has popular tunes such as Souvenirs, The Great Compromise and a song that was a hit for David Allen Cole called They Oughta Name A Drink After You. It also has a Carter Family cover of Diamonds In The Rough which Prine didn't do alot of. If there was ever a John Prine album to recommend anyone this would definitely be the one. John has a spot in the songwriters hall of fame if there ever was one.

Newfoundland Pride

I am pleasured and proud to be related to Jim Martin. My grandmother was his aunt. Yesterday my aunt gave me an album of Jims called Bay Born B'ye and it was a complete joy to listen to. Exceptional Newfoundland music mixed with a little country twang. The album actually showed off his vocal skills more than the video I just posted, he actually sounds a little much like the Canadian Roy Orbison to me at times, with highs and lows that will knock you to your knees. Jim actually grew up in Conception Bay Newfoundland, born to my great aunt Blanch. At a young age Jim moved to west Toronto Ontario to work as a ironman putting together steel framing for Toronto's skyscrapers. He was first heard by Boot Records president Jury Krytiuk at the Country Music Store, he was singing alongside a few other locals at this Toronto hotbed for up and coming musicians. Jury was blown away by Jims vocal ability and begged him to record an album for his record label. Jim was adamant about the idea but after 5 years he agreed to do so. Jury always said that Jim had a warm, natural voice, and is what sets him above the rest. I'm extremely proud to be related to such a talent as Jim and wish he was still alive today to share musical knowledge with. But even so here is the talent of Jim Martin and his warm, natural voice. Enjoy.

Working Mans Birthday

A huge happy birthday goes out to country music legend Merle Haggard. Merle has always been one of my all time favorite country music stars. He lived the cowboy life. Filled with booze and jail. Weather it was breaking into a bar in the middle of the day or singing in front of millions of fans or performing his mentor Jimmie Rogers songs like they were his own, Merle not only had the talent for songwriting but also had the stage presence. He always stood on stage and looked like the biggest man on stage. His songs from Mama Tried to Working Mans Blues to Fighting Side Of Me are country staples and will always be played in all your favorite honky tonks all over the world. Sad songs, mad songs, train songs, pain songs, Merle was the master of them all. So everyone grab your favorite fine whiskey or gin and have a toast to the most respected man in country music today, Merle Haggard.

All Apologies

It was a sad day 17 years ago today when it was first heard that a beloved frontman has died of suicide at his home in Seattle Washington. That dreadful day millions of fans mourned the untimely death of Nirvana singer/songwriter/genius Kurt Cobain. No one really knows what was really going through his mind that day, maybe its one of those things that can't really be explained. Whatever it was it left a river of tears flowing from fans all over the world. Today marks the day not of Kurts death which was on April 5, 1994, but rather the memorial and the flowing of tears and heartach after hearing of the tragedy. But on this day we should not look back on the pain, torture and confusion that this man must have been going through to go through with killing himself. We should actually look back on what beautiful music he has bestowed on us, music that can never die. That is what is so great about music, no matter how long after an artist is dead, you can still switch on a record, cd, tape, dvd, video, anything and get taken back to when that artist was still alive. You can travel back in time and relive that time and place where you first heard the great music. Music is a time capsule that can not be emptied or thrown away and forgot about. Kurt would only want everyone not to mourn on this day but look back and enjoy the music he thrown at us back in the early 90s at the beginning of the grunge boom. I must say out of all the music he did, one of the most powerful and probably the song that he most enjoyed doing was not his own. Rather an old gospel song that he covered and heard first from an old folk blues guitarist named Leadbelly. Where did you sleep last night has got to be Cobain's last goodbye to the world. He was actually supposed to do a couple more songs at the end of the legendary MTV Unplugged session but decided he could not best himself after this fine number. It was a perfect ending not only to a perfect album but also to a beautiful career. You can see it in his eyes at the end of the song after hes belting out the chorus at the top of his lungs sounding like a banshee that it was over, no more im out. Unplugged was recorded in November of 1993, Cobain would be found dead only months later. It was not only the last recordings Nirvana ever did but also one of the last shows. That is why it is so important. Cobain might have been a tortured soul, riddled with pain not only mentally but also physically, having throat problems at an early age. Drugs was a way out of the pain but also a way into the torture. But no matter what we always have the music, that does not die. RIP Kurt Cobain, you have joined that exclusive 27 club alongside Janis, Morrision, Brian Jones, Hendrex, Pigpen, etc. I hope your up there in that great jam session in the sky. It is not better to burn out than fade away.

Muddys Birthday

Today is the great Muddy Waters birthday. The innovator of the electric blues, up there with T Bone Walker. Muddy has done more for the blues in Chicago than any other musician there is, rival of Howlin Wolf and friend of Willie Dixon, he has exploded the careers of Johnny Winter, Little Walter, Jimmie Rogers, and James Cotton. Growing up he would go to shows and learn from the greats such as Son House, Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, etc. His career would flourish and drop from the 60s to the early 80s. Ups and downs ravished Waters but he never said die, he even taken his music to a whole new level after joining up with Johnny Winter in the 80s and releasing two great albums. Muddy passed away on April 30, 1983 but his influences are immense, millions have covered his songs from Led Zepplin, Humple Pie, Bob Dylan, Allman Brothers, Jeff Beck, Cream, Jimi Hendrex, just to name a few. Even the Rolling Stones named their band after the Muddy Waters hit of the same name. Even The Beatles reference him in their song Come Together. There's no denying Muddy's influence in not only blues but rock from 40 years ago to today. He shall never be forgotten and his great contribution to music will forever be appreciated.

Sounds A Hundred Years Old Today

The first time I heard of C W Stoneking was the smokey beer bottle littered living room of The Bonavista Chain Locker's Steve Hoskins and Mary Beth Waldram who owned a vinyl of his and popped it on for a little while. As soon as that needle made it to the end of that first row I fell in love. Everything about the album seemed trapped in time, from the album cover (Stoneking with an american steel guitar in his arms with a bowlers hat and suit and tie on a black and white cover) to the music that sounded a jump blues/calypso/jungle/jazz just about everything under the sun influence extravaganza. I can hear how Stoneking has influenced The Bonavista Chain Locker where they themselves have that same influence in their own great music. Again I fell in love with Stoneking's music right after that first few tracks and it sure wasn't the booze talking. His gravely voice fits perfectly with the background of horns and at times sounds like the deepest of blues singers such as Bukka White or Blind Willie Johnson with their familiar powerful rich voices. Stoneking comes from American parents but was born and raised in Australia and it is there where he prominently performs with his backup band The Primitive Horn Orchestra. In this video Stoneking is introduced by another stuck in time performer that I love named Seasick Steve. Steve introduces Stoneking as being lost in the 1920s and 30s. You can tell this guys got something when he performs his first of two songs in this video on banjo by himself and just silences the audience. There's not a movement in the crowd as he sings and plays. The second song he does is called The Love Me Or Die and is a old hokum song from New Orleans. Its really special to experience such great music being played to this day, its music like this that should never be lost in time and forgot about. Its great performers like C W Stoneking who we need to remind us how great music was back in the turn of the century. In a time where music is full of fake notes and voices that are twisted and turned by computers there's nothing better than going back to the basic and seeing actual talent instead of pushing buttons. Perfection is not always perfect.

Living With The Blues

They sing about it a million times over. Some musicians sound like it and some may look like it. But it takes a real blues musician to actually live the blues. They are far and between but they can be found in the back woods or in the deep alleys. Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee are living the blues. They are probably the greatest blues duo to ever grace the stage. Here you can hear Sonny with his deafening holler in between blowing on the harmonica while Brownie explains how blue it can be. Sonny and Brownie were not only big in the blues world but they also took the folk world by storm while influencing Bob Dylan, Pete Seegar, Dave Van Ronk, Fred Neil and many more after performing all over New York City. Listen to them sing of the blues and you can just close your eyes and feel it. It sends chills up and down your spine.

Failing To Fall Unpluggs The Pub

A calm night falls on Bonavista. Its one of the first in a while where mild weather graces us with her presence. You can hear the sea gulls squawking over the fish plant eying their next meal from above. Two young lads stroll into Walkhams Gate Pub with a tad bit of nervousness between them. Guitars under their arm and some pride in their chest they start setting up for their first show at the Pub. The two guys are Ryan Warren (Chester) and Marcus Elliott. Tonight was a free show to the public and oh what a night it was gonna be. Chester and Marcus sets up and gets their mind ready for the night. With song book in hand I later find out that most of the songs they would perform that night they only just learned. A few of the usual's start to surround the bar anticipating the opening song. They hit the stage and you could tell the tad bit of nervousness between them, but after a few tweaks from the board they were off, belting out classics from Tom Petty and The Tragically Hip. They even had a few originals that could easily been written by Springsteen or Young. After about a hour the pub started to fill with the masses of Failing To Fall fans ( Chester and Marcus's group). The nerves would be replaced with the love of performing with people in your face singing along and dancing to your strum. Marcus' voice was nothing but fantastic, he belted out raw and it carries stright from the throat. We were missing only one thing last night and that was Steve Abbott from Just BS 4 feet away from Chester's face singing harmony right in front of him just like Chester had done when Steve would grace us with his presence. But all in all it was a great night, filled with great music and 2 new regulars at The Walkhams Gate Pub. Congrats boys you really lived up to they hype.