Trash, Treasure, Oddities, Obsessions and Obligations
I know I’m a bad person for hijacking outlander content for a post. But this week has set an all-time record for being from hell, and, well, since it’s tax season and all, perhaps we could all use a little break.
Two links have been going around recently, both concerning the grandaddy of all planned communities. Both sites offer detailed documentation and analysis:
Levittown: Building the Suburban Dream
For fans of easy listening, bubblegum, middle of the road pop or any other non-rock retro-kitsch genre, the Going Thing is sure to be grail. They are a classic example of how the “youth market” was packaged to non-youths of the late 60s. The group offers all the energy and sex appeal of “the in sound” with none of the messy commitment. The records are packed with rock and roll medleys as soothing to the over-the-hill crowd as they are insulting to rock fans. They’ve got hits of the day with new lyrics written especially for Ford Motors employees. They’ve got trite jokes about this crazy loud music all the kids are listening to these days. The whole affair is served up with the kind of infectious super-square showbiz glitz that I’m always on the lookout for.
I don’t remember exactly how I wound up with a wall of beat up file cabinets. About fifteen years ago, I decided that if I bought enough of them, I’d be able to effectively manage all the paperwork I’d accumulated from lawyers, managers, accountants, agents, photographers, art projects, correspondence, etc. Instead, I wound up shoving everything anywhere it would fit. Meanwhile, these rusty old bastards were heavier than the shit I was trying to “organize” and I risked tetanus or a ruptured disk any time I tried to move them.
Continue reading ‘Things I Should Throw Out: Phoenix Gazette, 1944′
I wrote the following piece three years ago, shortly after making a career change from unemployed ex-drummer to hawker of organic produce. I don’t do that any more; I sit behind a desk now, like I should. But a friend of mine had a run-in with a sharp object last week (hey: it’s one of the hazards of her occupation), so I thought I’d dedicate this repost (which originally ran over at Luxuria Music) to her. Consider it part of the retraining she is now obliged to receive.