Monday, September 19, 2022

Hell's Kitchen Radio #490: What's On The Stereo?

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You got yourself a HiFi, do ya? You think you're all ooh la la? I bet you got some of that wall-to-wall shag carpeting all the kids are raving about, hmm?

We actually had wall-ON-wall carpeting in the basement rec-room of one of my childhood homes. There were some interesting square-cut mirrors with gold veins running through them for some odd effect. That house also had a built in bar. But it was the deep shag carpeting that not only ran across the floor, but literally up the wall to the ceiling that really stood out. Whose idea was that???

And of course our home stereo was down there too. My parents went out of town for a few days, leaving my two older sisters in charge. They were in high school and I was in elementary school at the time. I always looked up to my oldest sister, Julie. She's about eight and a half years older than me, and would always look after me when my folks were at work. My middle sister, Tracy, is about seven years older than me. She and I often butted heads when I was young, even though she was super excited about my mom giving birth to her little brother, me. We're all thick as thieves today. That party though! I was super excited they were having all of their friends over. This would have been around 1979 or 1980. And I can tell you whatever you have seen in movies about the teen fashions of that time were all over my basement that night. I stayed down there as long as they let me stay. I also have a memory of them setting everything up in the early evening, and me watching CHIPS on TV. HA!

This reminds me of the time my dad and his then girlfriend (now wife of 30+ years) went to Lake Tahoe, leaving me at home during my junior year of high school. I lived with my dad throughout high school; my parents divorced when I completed 8th grade. My best friend at the time, Kevin, decided to print up flyers for a kegger at my house, which he passed out to the local high schools, in and around San Mateo. Thanks Kevin. This was in late 1986, or early 1987. We had one hell of a party that night. About 300 people arrived. We had four kegs full of beer. My mom phoned, knowing my dad was out of town, and asked who that nice young lady was who answered the phone? I had no clue. She could hear lots of voices. My sister Tracy got on the phone and confronted me about having a party, letting me know that she was going to drive across the Bay right then and there. GULP.

Tracy arrived and alerted everyone "THIS IS MY FATHER'S HOUSE AND NONE OF YOU ARE INVITED!". She then told me the police are sitting outside in their squad car and want to talk with me. I proceeded outside and they told me that when the beer runs out these kids are going to get angry. "Why don't you choose who you want to have stay and we'll take care of the rest?". That's mighty kind of you officers. I selected about 30 people, and then the cops came through and escorted everyone off my property. They never even knew we were taking money at the door! HA!

My dad arrived home the next night to a mostly cleaned house. The carpet was pretty well trampled upon. I stopped him at the front door and told him about the party. He was none too pleased, but this was my dad we're talking about. There was no grounding. There wasn't much of anything. Thanks dad? I guess. I had no leash growing up. I went to shows all the time, up and down the Peninsula, and in the East Bay. I drove down to Monterey to see the Grateful Dead for the May 9th and 10th 1987 shows all by myself. I was 16. I never got myself in any serious trouble. I was never arrested, I never drove while high, I never liked alcohol, and I never was an asshole to people. Somehow I learned if I took "healthy risks" then the only person I could really have harmed was myself. That, and the "it's better to ask forgiveness than permission" thing. I've grown out of that, thankfully. 

I have no idea what prompted me to share all of that with you, but there ya go. 

Ummmmm music. Yeah, music. I have a few 2022 remasters and box sets here tonight. David Bowie, Blondie, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Ella Fitzgerald all have remasters out this year. There's some garage punk, jazz, Japanese Folk Psych, British shoe gaze, stoner metal, ambient doom, hip hop, grunge, post-punk, and William Shatner. 

With this you can't go wrong.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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You Ass Is Next In Line: The Mummies
All Night Long: The Headcoatees
Louie Louie: The Headcoats

Do Not Expose To The Burning Sun: Helms Alee
Blood of the Serpent: Glitter Wizard

Sound and Vision: David Bowie
Sunshine of Your Love: Ella Fitzgerald
Let's Spend the Night Together: Muddy Waters

Blue Train (Take 8): John Coltrane
Hood Politics: Kendrick Lamar

Dancing Blue: Kikagaku Moyo
Rave Down: Swervedriver

That's What Happened: Miles Davis
Trailer Trash: MV and EE

Moonlight Drive: Blondie
Raid: MF Doom and Madlib
King Henry V/Elegy for the Brave: William Shatner
IV: Aluk Todolo

New Face In Hell: The Fall
Stereo: Pavement
What A Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

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