Big Leather Couch

Music On The Couch is, in some ways the next step in Tuneage Tutelage as it has evolved on The Couch, and in other ways it is the return to my roots in radio.

Each Monday, I will introduce you to a musician or band earning their chops in the music industry. Playing, recording, touring, self-producing, self-promoting - whatever it takes to catch the next wave - these folks are doing it.

There is plenty of seating on The Couch and we hope you find time to join us.

PREMIER BROADCAST
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2010
10pm Eastern; 9pm Central; 8pm Mountain; 7pm Pacific


PHIL PUTNAM sits on The Couch

Phil Putnam was featured on The Couch in early 2009. Since then his single “More Than This”, from the 2008 CASUALTIES CD, was the #5 Video of the Year on MTV/Logo Network.

I’ll talk to Phil about the journey from his childhood to the 2001 release of his out-of-print HEALER to today and what he has in the works for 2010 and beyond.

Yesterday was the day of birth for the one and only MATT-MAN of "Bagwine Ruminations", so go over and make sure he is just drunk over there on the couch...

And TODAY...we celebrate the birth of the one and only STARRLIGHT of "Here Comes A Storm In The Form Of A Girl"!!!

GO wish them both some lovin and birthday wishes...

So listen - I wanna take some time out here to send good wishes to Matt-Man...the guy has been ailing and finally went to the hospital and was admitted yesterday.

As of 6:33pm CDT, he is resting and on oxygen and antibiotics with full on pneumonia

Get better soon Matt-Man...

Time is ticking away as we get closer to the third anniversary of BlogBlast For Peace.

I have been asked to help someone else with a globe - this time an old friend from college who is only FB, but does not blog! So that is cool...

Hoping this is going to be the best there has been!

Peace Globes can be found on Facebook and Twitter and Bloggers Unite and iPeace

Model and reality television star Adrianne Curry is now a celebrity blogger for DailyBuds and advocate for the legalization of medical marijuana.

She is widely known as the first winner of the reality television series America’s Next Top Model and for being married to Christopher Knight, who portrayed Peter Brady on The Brady Bunch, after meeting on the show Surreal Life and starring together on My Fair Brady.

Elizabeth Fournier is the the mortician at the funeral home in Boring, Oregon. She may be THE Boring mortician but she is far from being a boring mortician.
She is the author of “All Men Are Cremated Equal – My 77 Blind Dates” and will cremate one luck caller live on the air!

So You’re Cremated . . . Now What?
Would you like to distribute your earthly remains by being packed into fireworks and have them shot into space? How about turning your final remains into a real diamond or cast into a pink flamingo lawn sculpture? By knowing your options, you can be in the director’s chair for your life’s grand finale.
Jesse Kalfel, author of So You’re Cremated – Now What? will introduce his new book and provide insights about a serious topic in a lighthearted manner.

All that, plus:

• Co-host Vinny Bond sits on his Big Leather Couch to chat live with the listeners

• “Reality Allie” is this week’s fill in guest host

• The Burl of Annie and Burl Live works behind the scenes as pro-doucher

• Justin the Mouthinator will toe the line between manic and psychotic

• Shawn Amos returns with another GetBack.com Pop Culture IQ
  

• and we’ll take your calls at 646-652-4804

Sorry - Leaf Peeping Pictures tomorrow...

What are you doing for this long weekend? Whatever it is, PLEASE remember to honor those men and women who have fought for our freedom for the last 233 years.

Last year our Memorial Day Tribute included a lesson on the folding of Our Flag. You can find that post HERE.

I found this image over at The Soapbox Queens and just loved it.

Stay safe this weekend and hopefully, when you are outside enjoying your time of reflection, the sky will not look as ominous as this picture I took from behind the wheel of the car, heading south on US78 in Mississippi one day some weeks ago. My darlin' Nancy needed something for a presentation and I mounted my trusty steed got in my car and drove it down to her.

This was the sight I had to contend with the entire ride - but luckily, the storm was also heading south and stayed ahead of me the entire drive.

Clickie For Biggie - They Need It


Now, all I did was add a ton of contrast to this version of the shot.
Why? because the cloud formation just over the tree-tops
on the left and into the center of the roadway up ahead
is spectacular IMHO. It looks like I painted
that in, but I did not. Other than adding contrast,
this is right out of the camera.

What do you think?

Check out "Looking At The Sky Friday" participants by clicking on the banner above and heading over to Crazy Working Mom's site.

Please folks...you must help...The disease is spreading. People who have never visited THE BAGWINE, are making pilgrimages to worship at the new, nice (gives me shivers to just type that), MATT-MAN.

So, like one of the first people I met in March of 2006 on the American Idol boards was a fellow New Yorker/Bronxite named Busy. Busy and I were part of the original band of 6-10 who formed THE SOUL PATROL - rumor has it that Busy even came up with the moniker.

I can't remember...I tend to have STML (right TURNBABY?).

But that is not the point of what is coming up...I know - hurry along sonny, we have tons of other cool blogs to read - so anywhoodle and HECK-A-DOODLE, when the Hoochies & The Hotties were formed, Busy was an original member and went by Rocker Hoochie. Busy and I bonded over our love of classic rock and roll and the girl owns an original vinyl of Iron Butterfly's Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida!

Add to the above, she sews, and reads (I mean like a book every other day - she has read more than any person I have ever met), and she is raising two fine children and if you don't know Busy, you should! You can visit here at "BUSY WITH LIFE".

The last year or so, we have drifted apart...Busy was not blogging as much - or at least I could not find where she was blogging - she would make an occasional comment here, but I could tell she had visited more often.

Then on Tuesday evening, I received this comment:

Now, I have to name a few bloggers...

Well, it is a meme and we do have a Queen of memes - and she is eternally grateful to all of her loyal minions who fly their Peace Globes each year. She is also - and I have said this a ka-billion times - a brilliant writer who takes her readers on journeys of fancy and tales of love and life all done in an impeccably styled pencil-skirt. I present the award to my blogger buddy, MIMI of "Mimi Writes".

Next will be one special lady. She is a loving mother, a good friend, an activist for the ills she sees in the world, a creative writer and she does it all while she is in pain with various ailments. Does she speak of these often? Not at all.

What she will speak on is her causes and she speaks loud and clear. She will write Wordzzles like no ones business...and she will make you smile with tales of her youth.

Oh and did I mention that, when she has her snark on, there are very few who can keep up with her? Well, tis the truth kiddies. Finally, DIANNE of "Forks Off The Moment"is a good blogger buddy.

Finally, this lady is raising two kids to love and respect the world as she does. She sings for her church choir, she volunteers in her children's school, she is sweet and caring and has a mouth like an interstate truck driver when she lets it rip...
All of her friends and loved ones say a little prayer each day that the ills she suffers will lessen so that she can enjoy her children even more.

She is selfish though...she is off to the beach and not once...NOT ONCE...did I get an invite to join she and her family...I just do not understand!?!?!?

Nah, seriously...DESERT SONGBIRD of "The Ice Box" you are a good blogger buddy!

Above, I made a mention that MATT-MAN of "Bagwine Ruminations" would get a tingle from the fact that someone was gushy. You see, we need your help.

You must go over to his site and help deprogram him. It seems that Matt-Man's body and mind have been invaded by the spirit of Mr. Rogers. He is spreading his saccharine laden thoughts across the bloggosphere turning it into his own personal "BIZARRO WORLD" and causing some people to begin acting like zombies.

Don't believe me? Well, we thought some might be skeptical, so we hired one of the best, most insistent paparazzi to capture a picture of Matt-Man as he exists, today, in his Bagwine abode...

Finally today, we send our best out to Amy Mickelson. Amy is the wife of PGA golfer, Phil Mickelson and it was announced yesterday that she has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

Tests will continue and treatment is expected to begin with “major surgery” within two weeks, according to an announcement from Gaylord Sports, Mickelson’s management firm.

Because of this, and rightfully so, Phil has withdrawn from the PGA tour for an "indefinite period of time". Our prayers go out to Amy, Phil, and their 3 children.

Was Lil Kim off key with the viewers?
Could Shawn have fallen off the beam??
Did Melissa's injury give the voters a chance for a divorce?
Find out from TRAVIS of "Trav's Thoughts",
He'll have the full DANCING WITH THE STARS rundown...

DId you see THIS POST yesterday?

We truly enjoy our friend Matt-Man, but when he begins to blatantly lie and slander others, it is time for him to be brought back down to earth.

In that post, he had a photo of himself and he slandered a man named Boogie Samuels who went to high school with Matt-Man (who was known back then as Matt-Lad).

You see, in the 11th grade Matt-Lad was dating the local Irish pass-around, Ginger O'Takeme and found himself in love. Ginger was everything Matt-Lad had hoped for since he was 6 years old, sitting in the family room of his home, watching Diana Riggs on The Avengers.

What does this have to do with Boogie? Well, the day Matt-Lad was going to ask Ginger to the Junior Prom, it was Boogie who beat him to the punch.

It was lunchtime and as Matt-Lad made his way to the cafeteria table where Ginger sat with her friends. Slowly he walked carrying his tray loaded with loosemeat, limp french fries and a 3 oz. container of luke-warm milk rehearing how he was going to pop the question..."Ginger, I really really really like you and think that we could be the most perfectest couple at the whole prom, and I promise to shower before we go."

When he was within 10 feet of the table, Boogie ran by knocking Matt-Lad's elbow causing the tray to begin to tumble, loosemeat covered Matt-Lad's shirt and luke-warm milk slowly dripped down his pants.

Everyone in the cafeteria began to laugh hysterically including Ginger. Matt-Lad turned bright red with embarrassment and ran out of school. The next day, Matt-Lad came to school to find out that Ginger had accepted an invitation to the prom with Corky Smearman, a ninth grader who only had 4 fingers on his right hand.

Now, some 26 years later, Matt-Man tried to get his revenge by posting this picture with Boogie's face on it:

Now Matt-Man, I was going to ask for an apology, but then Boogie sent me this picture and I think he is not interested in hearing from you...

Received an email from Erik Scott, our featured performer this past Monday. He was going to comment but wanted to ensure y'all saw it, so I told him I would post it here:

Hello, Erik Scott here.

I just want to thank Master Vinny Bond for including "Other Planets" on his comprehensive and easily interactive site. Also thanks to the folks for all the comments.

"Other Planets" can be purchased at http://cdbaby.com/cd/erikscott and at Amazon.

Interested folks can discover more samples, and more info about my checkered past at
http://erikscottbass.com, or at http://myspace.com/erikscottbass. And thanks again for, well, listening.

Cheers, Erik

The opening track from Other Planets, this is "Bartalk"...

I realize that statistically, you are the second-most accurate quarterback in NFL history (trailing only Chad Pennington), with a career completion percentage of 65.7%...wait ....CHAD PENNINGTON???? Oh right, when you throw 5-yard passes, you tend to be accurate!

Do you really think you will have a better chance in San Francisco? You better like clouds because you will be on your back more than anything. Arizona has offered $20-Million for two years...$20-Million!!!!! He wants $28-Million...I just wonder what Kurt made as a stock boy? Ah...$5.50/hr.

I ask as I have asked many times...do these people know there is a scary recession going on? Do they realize that many of their fans will not be able to think about tickets for the upcoming season?

Really...how much more is $4-Million/year when you think about it on the larger scale?

So, in an effort to refinance his life Michael Jackson is planning some comeback concerts in London. The singer who was nicknamed "big nose" as a child by his father (seriously, he was!) is now known as "no nose" by the uncaring public. And what has he done to deserve this injustice?

He has never 'cut his nose to spite his face' and he has always loved little children...

ummm what?

oh yeah, maybe that is why the public does not care any longer.

His last public appearance was at the 2006 World Music Awards. He was scheduled to perform "We Are the World" but only managed a few lines before leaving the stage.

Rumors that his nose began to fall off as he reached for a high note, remain to this day, unconfirmed. Though we have found evidence that it might be true...

Many of y'all know that our most excellent friend MATT-MAN of "Bagwine Ruminations" is in the midst of his annual Lenten Fast when he eschews all meats (except fish) and sustains his life on beans and whey...Well...in an attempt to make this easier for him, we post the following picture which is sure to make him pass out for the next 20 days or so...

And to celebrate the week long appearance by U2 on The David Letterman Show, we offer up this news item which will make our friend STARRLIGHT from "Here Comes A Storm In The Form OF A Girl" squeal like a teeny-bopper...

U2’s Bono did an interview on radio to promote his new CD No Line On The Horizon. But Bono seemed to have Coldplay’s Chris Martin on his mind and referred to him as a “wanker” and “cretin”.

In the radio interview, Jo Whiley asked Bono if he thought Chris Martin was as talented as Paul McCartney.

“I think he’s that good a melodist, but he’s a wanker,” was Bono’s reply.

Whiley reportedly asked Bono for an apology, but Bono just said, “I’m a reformed character, I don’t any more.”

Then to dig himself deeper, Bono said Chris Martin was “obviously a completely dysfunctional character and a cretin, but he happens to be a great melodist and up there with Ray Davies, Noel Gallagher and Paul McCartney.”

Later in the interview, seemed to rethink his rude comments and stated, “I think [Coldplay] are a great band and, actually, it turns out [Martin's] a great soul as well. Sorry about that. I was just joking entirely.”

Now now Bono...we all know you meant it ... especially since Chris Martin IS a wanker and a cretin

While on 'the rack' at the Chiropractor's on Monday, this came across my iTouch and I just had to share it. From their appearance at The Beacon Theater on March 15, 1997, this is "Blue Sky" from The Allman Brother's Band. It starts out with a bit of "Franklin's Tower", the Grateful Dead song...and then explodes into Blue Sky...

The lineup at that time was:
* Gregg Allman - organ, piano, guitar, vocals
* Dickey Betts - guitar, slide guitar, vocals
* Butch Trucks - drums, tympani
* Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson - drums, percussion
* Warren Haynes - guitar, slide guitar, vocals
* Allen Woody - bass, background vocals
* Marc Quiñones - drums, percussion, background vocals

ENJOY...

Happy Monday all...

I have a Pimps Of Joytown CD heading out to RALPH of "Airhead 55" and the Miranda Vittrus CD will be heading out to SONGBIRD of "The Ice Box", but not for her...for her daughter! OH and MATT-MAN from "Bagwine Ruminations" there will be a package coming to you for the Ryno dude also.

Both of these will go out along with the CDs owed to Mimi and Topchamp when I return from my trip this week.

Was a busy weekend and it was just long enough to fit in all the laundry and other personal things I needed to do.

Thanks fr all your warm wishes last week as I suffered from the cold. It is gone and I am feeling OK on that front. However I am still suffered in from the back. I am going to need some serious adjustments when I return from this trip...

I hate feeling like I can't do anything and that every time I move too quickly I feel a twinge and some pain...

Hey, if you want to read the review I did for Bruce Springsteen's Working On A Dream...well YOU CAN'T! - well maybe in Google Reader I guess.

If you remember, it disappeared for a few hours on the day I posted it...Well on Thursday, I received this email from Blogger Support (HEY, no laughing...I thought Blogger Support was an oxymoron also!):

Blogger has been notified, according to the terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), that certain content in your blog infringes upon the copyrights of others. The URL(s) of the allegedly infringing post(s) may be found at the end of this message.

The notice that we received from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and the record companies it represents, with any personally identifying information removed, will be posted online by a service called Chilling Effects at http://www.chillingeffects.org. We do this in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Please note that it may take Chilling Effects up to several weeks to post the notice online at the link provided.

The IFPI is a trade association that represents over 1,400 major and independent record companies in the US and internationally who create, manufacture and distribute sound recordings (the "IFPI Represented Companies").

The DMCA is a United States copyright law that provides guidelines for online service provider liability in case of copyright infringement. We are in the process of removing from our servers the links that allegedly infringe upon the copyrights of others. If we did not do so, we would be subject to a claim of copyright infringement, regardless of its merits. See http://www.educause.edu/Browse/645?PARENT_ID=254 for more information about the DMCA, and see http://www.google.com/dmca.html for the process that Blogger requires in order to make a DMCA complaint.

Blogger can reinstate these posts upon receipt of a counter notification pursuant to sections 512(g)(2) and 3) of the DMCA. For more information about the requirements of a counter notification and a link to a sample counter notification, see http://www.google.com/dmca.html#counter.

Please note that repeated violations to our Terms of Service may result in further remedial action taken against your Blogger account. If you have legal questions about this notification, you should retain your own legal counsel. If you have any other questions about this notification, please let us know.

Sincerely,

The Blogger Team

Affected URLs:

http://bondsbigleathercouch.blogspot.com/2009/01/tuneage-tutelage-music-review-bruce.html

The bolding of the last sentence is my doing, as we all know Blogger is infamous for NOT ANSWERING emails.

But I take the chance and I write them back explaining my relationship with Sony/BMG. My contact at Sony/BMG writes me back and tells me that, they are correct, though she never bothers those of us she works with from posting songs - she agrees, it only helps build up interest and the songs I post can not be downloaded.

OK...no worries, I write back to -NO LAUGHING- Blogger Support, and say "OK, give me back my post and I will delete the audio".

Where is that crickets audio...yup...NOTHING!

Wrote them again last night...will see what they do.

Today we introduce you to another artist in the Sony/BMG family. My contact at the label was so excited in her email that i had to jump on this and see what it was all about and am I glad I did!

The gentleman's name is Raphael Saadiq and the CD title is The Way I See It.

Now...do you think the name sounds familiar? Honestly I didn't until I did the obligatory Google and found out more about this man.

Raphael Saadiq was born Charlie Ray Wiggins on May 14, 1966 in Oakland, California.

Saadiq has been playing music since the age of six. During the 1970s and 1980s, he played bass at church and school. He also enjoyed his onstage moments at various local events of his hometown.

Saadiq began his professional career as the lead vocalist and bassplayer in the rhythm and blues and dance trio Tony! Toni! Toné!. He used the name Raphael Wiggins while in Tony! Toni! Toné!, where he was joined by his brother Dwayne Wiggins, and his cousin Timothy Christian. He adopted the name of Raphael Saadiq in the mid-1990s.[1]

In 1996, Tony! Toni! Toné! released the album entitled House of Music. His biggest solo success was his 1995 single "Ask of You", which peaked at #19 in the U.S.. Saadiq also hooked up with EPMD for 1998's Da Joint.

His next big project became the R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl. He recorded the self-titled album with Dawn Robinson (En Vogue) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest). This group only lasted for one album.

He released his first solo album Instant Vintage in 2002 and earned 5 Grammy nominations.

His 2000 song collaboration "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" won D'Angelo a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance; it was also nominated for Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. The song was also ranked #4 on Rolling Stone "End of Year Critics & Readers Poll" of the top singles of 2000. The Voodoo (album) also won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

In 2004, Saadiq produced a remix of the song "Crooked Nigga Too" by the Late Tupac Shakur that was featured on the album; Loyal To The Game

Other artists he has collaborated with include Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, The Isley Brothers, Teedra Moses, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Macy Gray, Angie Stone, Snoop Dogg, Devin the Dude, DJ Quik, Kelis, Q-Tip, Lil' Skeeter, Ludacris, The Bee Gees, Musiq Soulchild, Jaguar Wright, Chanté Moore, Lionel Richie, Marcus Miller, Noel Gourdin, Nappy Roots, Calvin Richardson, T-Boz from TLC, Floetry, Leela James, Amp Fiddler, John Legend, Joss Stone, Young Bellz, Anthony Hamilton, Babyface, Ledisi, Goapele, Ginuwine, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Bilal, as well as many others.

In 2007, Saadiq was called on to produce the whole third album from UK Soul singer Joss Stone.

On April 13, 2007, Saadiq just played the role of Anthony Hayes from Disturbia.

The Way I See It is Grammy nominated for : Best R&B Album, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group

The iTunes Editorial Team has named The Way I See It as their choice for Best Album of 2008.

Some resume huh?

I guess by the time y'all read this we will know how he did on his Grammy nominations.
NOTE: Well the album award went to Jennifer Hudson. (And Question...is Whitney Houston ever sober anymore???)

The CD is chock full of sweet lead vocals, smooth harmonies with a tight backing band. I immediately made sure this was on my iTouch for my upcoming trip.

You can hear some of his music on his website HERE, or his myspace page HERE.

This is a keeper for sure and one of you can own this CD by leaving a comment.

We are going to give you a little taste of Raphael here...no whole songs, just a few songs clips...I think that keeps me in "compliance"... "Never Give You Up" with Mr. Stevie Wonder, "Sure Hope You Mean It" and "Keep Marching".

Off to Hamburg, PA today...should be home sometime Thursday.