Thursday, March 31, 2005

A great day in music, 1973 style.

Wow!! The following songs all made their chart debuts on this day (3/31) in 1973:
..Steveie Wonder's "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" (reached #1)
..Dobie Gray's "Drift Away" (reached #5)
..Stealers Wheel, with "Stuck In Te Middle With You" (reached #6)
..Skylark, with "Wildfire" (reached #9)
..Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side" (reached #16)
A pretty impressive list! 4 of these 5 songs grace my music collection.......

Scrub Lizard


I was sitting on this bench, with my 5 year old son, enjoying the Florida morning sunshine, after a 2 day drive from Illinois. Suddenly this little fellow poped out of this pipe that came through the board. Seemed like a nice enough guy, but he ran off when we tried to get too close! Nikon D70

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Tubular, man..........

On this date (3/30) in 1974 Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" hit the charts. This exerpt from the full album song "Tubular Bells" would peak at #7 on the US Charts. It was, of course, the theme song to the smash movie "The Exorcist".

Clock Tower, Disney World


At the entrance to the Magic Kingdom, the train station / clock tower stand front and center. Today is "Clock" theme day at my photography newsgroup, this was my second choice shot. Bull's Eye edged it out..... Nikon D70

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

He Ain’t Good lookin’ But He Sure Can Play

On the car stereo today: Elvin Bishop’s album “Struttin’ My Stuff”. This is a fun southern rock offering from 1975. Dubbed to tape from my original vinyl. Despite the laid back hit “Fooled Around and Fell In Love”, this album has a very funky swinging sound, somewhat reminiscent of Capricorn Records stable-mate Wet Willie. There’s a great up-tempo cover of the Tempations’ “My Girl”, but also the rather crude “Slick Titty Boom”. Trivia notes: Mickey Thomas was lead singer on “Fooled Around And Fell In Love”. Mickey went on to join Jefferson Starship in 1979.

Some are mathematicians, Some are carpenter's wives...

Making it's Top 40 debut this day (3/29) in 1975: "Tangled Up In Blue" from Bob Dylan. This masterpiece song, from Dylan's Masterpiece album "Blood On The Tracks", only made it as far as #31 on the pop charts. But it clearly outclasses, and has certainly outlasted, the eventual #1 song that debuted the same day: "He dont love you like I love you" by Tony Orlando and Dawn.....

Boat Ride


During our recent vacation to Disney World, we decided to do a nice dinner on-site. We didn't realize that you can't get same-day reservations at any of the sit-down restaurants in the park...... BUT, the nice fellow at guest services (a Syracuse student; Jeff, maybe?), suggested the buffet over at the Fort Wilderness Resort. So we were on the 5:15 shuttle across the Lake.... Turned out to be a good meal (love that fried chicken!) and a good price, and a nice, more-relaxed, atmosphere. And we made it back with just enough time to use our flash-passes on the Buzz Lightyear ride, then catch the fireworks.

Monday, March 28, 2005

Go All The Way

3/28/1974, The Raspberries split up. The group's biggest hit is "Go All the Way," which went all the way to No. 5 in 1972.

Exotic?


Exotic: "strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or unusual"....
From the Jungle Cruise signs at Disney World. I like the shade of green!

Sunday, March 27, 2005

Magic Kingdom.......


Cinderella's Castle at Disney World, Orlando, FL. Just before the fireworks. Nikon D70

Friday, March 25, 2005

Hey, Hey We (were) The Monkess!

On this date (3/25) in 1968, the 58th and final episode of "The Monkees" TV show is aired. One of these days I need to pick up the DVD re-release from Rhino.....

Tomorrowland at Night


Taken 9pm, just moments before the fireworks at the Cinderella Castle, from the bridge to tomorrowland.... 1/10th sec, f-4.5. Handheld, with some buzz simplifier. Nikon D70

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Hmmmmmm

On this date (3/24) in 1973 , former Velvet Underground frontman, and subsequent solo artist Lou Reed is bitten by a fan who jumps on stage in Buffalo, N.Y. Take a walk on the wild side, indeed!

Azalea Blossoms


Well, I do do too many "flower" shots, but these Azalea blossoms really struck me. Nikon D70

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Balloons


There were several street vendors wandering around the Disney parks with huge "bouquets" of bright metallic balloons. This one's from MGM Studios..... Nikon D70

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Breezin'

Happy Birthday, George Benson!! The Jazz Guitarist was born today (3/22) in 1943, in Pittsburgh, PA. Benson had serveral crossover hits in the 70's and 80's, including "Breezin'", "Give Me The Night" and a great remake of "On Broadway".

Running Giraffe


At the Kilimanjaro Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom... This giraffe ran down the hill, converging on our truck, before stopping with some others to eat. Nikon D70 aperture priority mode, autofocus, 1/500th f-4.5

Monday, March 21, 2005

Do Not Feed The Alligators


On the grounds of an Orlando area hotel. I think it's a joke..... Nikon D70

Sunday, March 20, 2005

O-No Yoko!!

on this day (3/20) in 1969, John Lennon marries Yoko Ono in Gibraltar. Many people still blame Yoko for the breakup of the Beatles......

Dichotomy?


This is a BP gas station / convienience store in downtown Atlanta (across the street from the Varsity drive in)... They have an array of solar panels across the roof covering the pumps. So they sell "old" energy while collecting new! Not from my Nikon D70

Friday, March 18, 2005

Rocky Mountain High

I had a layover in Denver this week, and actually, it’s one of the better places to spend a few hours. Clean and open (by airport standards), with a good selection of foods and shops on the concourse (though I usually opt for the food-court “Steak Escape”, and grab a good-and-greasy steak sandwich. But there’s a Wolfgang Puck Express if that’s more your style. One of the highlights for me is the “Images of Nature” galleries, featuring the photography of Thomas Mangelsen. Some really outstanding images, and it’s always impressive to see photographs blown up 29x90” (among the redwoods) or 30x45 (true patriot)!! My budget allows a couple of the note card size, though. One of my favorite things about DIA? There’re lots and lots of power outlets. So you can recharge your computer batteries while you wait. Chicago (ORD), by contrast has very few outlets, which were very hard to find. Also, Denver International is served wireless, by ATT, I think it was. Something like $9.99 per day, too much for this 2 hour sojourn, but it least it was an option. I couldn’t find anything during my recent 5 hour layover in Chicago.

Rush Hour......


Hurry, hurry, hurry! Nikon D70. 1/20th Sec, f-29.0

Thursday, March 17, 2005

Over Lewiston....


Link to Today's Photo........
sorry, having a glitch with my ftp server, will try and update later.
The area around Pullman WA / Moscow ID is called the Palouse region, lots of rolling hills. If you have a chance to drive south, after 30 miles or so, you come aound a bend and suddenly there's this great drop off. They call it Lewiston Hill, but it's a 2000' dropoff!!

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

We may still have time, We might still get by

Happy Birthday Nancy Wilson!! The younger of the Wilson sisters (along with Ann), who fronted the band Heart starting in the mid-70's was born on this day (3/16) just a few years ago.... .

Sunset, Lewiston, Idaho


Viewed from Lewiston Hill, Lewiston Idaho, and (on the extreme right)Clarkston Washington. At the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers. Not taken with my Nikon D70....1/30th second, f-2.8

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

People down in Georgia come from near and far......

3/15/1975, Charlie Daniels Band debuted on the Top 40 with their Southern Rock anthem "The South's Gonna Do It". Although it peaked at 29 on the pop charts, it was, and is, a rebel classic. The song calls out 9 southern rock artists / bands, how many do YOU remember?

The Varsity


Founded in 1928, The Varsity bills themselves as the Worlds largest Drive-In Restaurant. Just off Ga. Tech's campus, in downtown Atlanta. Photo was taken shortly after dusk, available light, handheld (with bracing). Levels adjustment in PSE2.0, and a tiny bit of Simplifier filter.

Monday, March 14, 2005

Seals and Crofts and Campbell???

No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit this day (3/14) in 1958: "Tequila," by The Champs. Glen Campbell, Jim Seals and Dash Crofts were all in The Champs, but not until after "Tequila" hits No. 1. In the words of Ed McMahon: "I didn't know that".......

Spring Trail.....


Spring is getting close, you can almost taste it! This shot is from last spring, probably a few weeks ahead of now....

Saturday, March 12, 2005

You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave

One of the best known songs of the seventies, The Eagles' "Hotel California" hit the charts today (3/12) back in 1977. It reaced #1 (of course), and spent 15 weeks on the charts. Hotel California was one of five #1 songs for the Eagles (through 1982, at least), and was the second #1 from the Hotel California album.

Reflections


Weedon Island Preserve, on the west side of Tampa Bay. After a day of meetings (1/2004), I dashed across the bay to Weedon, I'd seen the "brown sign" while looking for a restaurant the day before. Had a little time to walk around, and enjoy the "natural" Florida. I think this is a Blue Herron, but I'm no expert on such things......

Friday, March 11, 2005

Janet Lee Photography

Janet's got a new website, drop by and check it out!! Lot's of good stuff ! Drop a note in her guestbook, let her know where you heard about her!

Crazy mama, where you been so long?

J.J. Cale had his first and only Top 40 hit with "Crazy Mama", which entered the charts 3/11/1972. This laid back number made it to #22. J.J. Cale is the renouned songwriter and master of the laid back guitar style that inspired Eric Clapton during his "Lay Down Sally" era. JJ Cale is one of the more influential unknowns, he's been covered by just about everyone, including: Clapton (4 times), Poco, Santana, Gatemouth Brown, Kansas, Lynyrd Skynyrd (twice), the Band, Waylon Jennings, and more.

Parking abstract


Another take on the parking lot at Westport.... an abstract view. Nikon D70, effects in Photoshop Elements.

Thursday, March 10, 2005

Chase

On this day (3/10) in 1979, the instrumental "Chase", by Giorgio Moroder entered the Top 40. This is the song from the movie "Midnight Express", which I saw on my first "real" date with my wife, 25+ years ago. This is a great song to play in the car on a drizzly, night, zooming through the reflections...........

Airshow Abstract


Another shot from the airshow last 4th of July, at the St.Louis Arch fairgrounds. LOTS of digital effects added here, for the abstract result.

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Parked


"Those who cannot remember the past will spend a lot of time looking for their cars in mall parking lots" quote by Jay Trachman Ok, I'm feeling a bit abstract today. This is out the window of the Sheraton Westport St. Louis, from my 12th floor room. Nikon D70

Day Of The Eagle

60 years ago today (3/9/1945), Robin Trower was born in London. He is a founding member of Procul Harum, and had a solo career in the 70's. Trower's one of the guitar greats! Happy Birthday RT!!

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Hober reeber saba soben Hoba seeba snick

Happy Birthday to Mickey Dolenz, drummer and comedic lead of the the Monkees!

We'd love to hear you speak your mind...

Sometimes we forget the mood of the land in the 1975. Post Watergate, the fall of Saigon, Stagflation, cities like New York going bankrupt.... In the midst of this, the band Chicago relaesed "Harry Truman", a nosalgic cry to a past president: "America's calling, Harry Truman, Harry you know what to do. The world is turnin' round and losin' lots of ground, Oh Harry is there something we can do to save the land we love..." "Harry Truman" hit the Top 40 today (3/8) back in 1975, and peaked at lucky 13 on the charts.

Airshow #2


This month's theme at BetterPhoto.com is "Planes Trains and Automobiles". This is a plane. Taken last 4th of July during the airshow at the St.Louis Arch. This was the stuntplane that had the wing-walker, though she was still in the plane at this point. I' never seen such a thing "live" before, it was kinda cool...

Monday, March 07, 2005

And We All Shine On.....

Hitting the Top 40 today, 3/7, back in 1970, John Lennon, with "Instant Karma". This one made the Top 5.

Fabulous Fox


The Fox theater in downtown Atlanta, where Lynyrd Skynyrd recorded their classic album "One More From The Road". I'm sure there's been a lot of other good stuff there through the years...

Happy Kasmir Pulaski Day!!!

Yep, today is a Holiday in our school district to celebrate Kasmir Pulaski. I'm not positive, but I believe KP was a Polish immigrant who fought in the revolutionary war. It seems to be an Illinois only holiday, just another excuse for the schools to be off.

Sunday, March 06, 2005

To satisfy your intellectual need...

Entering the charts today (3/6) in 1976, The Sweet, with "Action". This was the only one of Sweet's 5 hits from the 70's that didn't make the Top 10, stalling at #20.

Trees in the lake....


The trees along the shore occasionally fall in...

Saturday, March 05, 2005

The Stream Always Wins.....


"In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins – not through strength, but through persistence. " Along the bike/hike trail that runs through SIUE, taken March 2004. Quote by Anon. Kodak LS443

Friday, March 04, 2005

Schindleria Praematurus

Happy Birthday, Chris Squire. The bassist extrodinaire for Yes was born 3/4/1948. I remember Squire was consistantly voted best bass player through the mid 70's. I saw Yes a couple of times in the mid/late 70's, and they put on a great show!

Mountains Come Out Of The Sky And They Stand There....

Yes's classic hit "Roundabout" hit the Top 40 today (3/4) in 1972. One of the great keyboard songs of the 70's, with Rick Wakeman's flying fingers......

Handprint


A slight impression of a small child's hand, in the concrete alongside a sidewalk. barely noticable most days, but outlined by a dusting of snow this time..... Another shot from a one-use camera. Converted to B&W in Photoshop elements, with a filter from photo-plugins.com.

Thursday, March 03, 2005

Just Shoot Me #356

26 years ago today, Frank Mills hit the Top 40 with his catchy little piano instrumental: "Music Box Dancer". Somehow, this banal bit made it all the way to #3. Take a cute little piano melody, repeat about 1,000 times in 3 minutes..... Argh!

Don't Cross The Bridge Until You Get To It...


The Clark Bridge, crossing the Mississippi River, connecting Alton, IL with West Alton, MO. Taken from the Missouri side. Nikon D70, quote is English Proverb

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Couldn't Stop Moving When It First Took Hold......

3/2/1974, Rick Derringer's "Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo" hit the charts. This was his only hit as a solo artist (after Hang On Sloopy with the McCoys), but the All American Boy was a force in mid-70s rock, including associations with Edger and Johnny Winter, Alice Cooper, Richie Havens, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, and more . Derringer is one of my favorite underrated guitarists, a real guilty pleasure.

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

...And that's all right with me

On this day (3/1) in 1975, Sammy Johns had his 1 hit with "Chevy Van". This deep and meaningful song hung on the charts till July, and peaked at #5.

Let The Mind Create The Tree.....


"Every man has a different idea of what's beautiful, and it's best to take the gesture, the shadow of the branch, and let the mind creat the tree" William Faulkner. Shadow of a tree, cast across the frozen lake. Part of an ongoing project using "one-shot" cameras. Not my Nikon D70!

Roger from Oz?

Happy Birthday, Roger Daltrey! The lead singer for the Who is 61 years old today (3/1/05)