Cinderella can't you see, don't want your company....

This day (4/30) in 1977 saw the release of another head-scratcher. “Cinderella”, by Firefall made it’s debut, it would peak at 34. Now, I like Firefall, and this isn’t a bad song. But the lyrics sure aren’t romantic, or even nice. For all those guys who're happy to hang around with a girl they don't love, until she shows up pregnant......

Photography Unlimited

My shot "Green Day" was picked as one of the Pictures Of The Month for April, over at Photography Unlimited!! Whooo-Hooo!!

POTD at PhotoShowdown

Been doing well this week on Photo-Of-The-Day contests around the web. Today (4/29), Lighted Jars got the nod over at PhotoShowDown! Yee-Haa!

YAWN.....

The most notable song to make it’s Top 40 debut on this day (4/29) in 1978 was “2 out of 3 Ain’t Bad”, by Meatloaf. I’m not a big fan of this song, even the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s county version is unconvincing. Not exactly a romantic masterpiece: “I want you, I need you, But there ain’t no way I'm ever gonna love you. Now don’t be sad, cause 2 out of 3 ain’t bad”. What woman wouldn't be swept off her feet by THAT sentiment?

In The Woods

Yet another in the "one-shot-camera" series. This one's from Silver Lake Park, in Highland, IL....

And When The Cupboard’s Bare I'll Still Find Something There............

One of Sir-Paul’s best known solo songs, “My Love” made its chart debut today (4/28) back in 1973. This one went to #1, of course. Technically, this is Wings, but we all know that was just Paul McCartney’s back up band, especially on this “silly love song”. Gotta love it, though.

Glass Block Reflections

I liked the light reflections..... Nikon D70

Cause I'll be standing on the side when you check it out

Stevie Wonder was a musical force in the 70’s, with 18 Top 40 singles in the decade. An even dozen made Top 10, and 5 went all the way to #1. On this day (4/27) in 1974, one of the “lessor” hits made it’s debut: “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing”. A great song that somehow didn’t make the cut for Stevie’s "Definitive Collection" CD. That says a lot about the competition, huh?

Lights, Strung

Bare bulbs across the way........ Nikon D70

POTD at DIC!!

"Running Giraffe" is Picture Of The Day today over at Digital Image Cafe!! That's my second POTD over at DIC, and my second POTD of the week (along with Monday's at Shutterbugs)!! Way cool! This shot was on the blog last month, but just recently got submitted to DIC...

Will you meet me in the middle, will you meet me in the air?

America’s #1 hit “Sister Golden Hair” made its Top 40 debut on this day (4/26) in 1975. This was America’s 6th Top 10 in 7 singles on the Top 40, starting March of 1972, a pretty strong string in a bit over 3 years. But they’d only chart twice after this, and do no better than #20. Perhaps they ran out of ideas for album titles starting with “H”? (Harbor, Hat Trick, Hearts, Hideaway, History, Holiday, Homecoming, Hourglass, Human Nature, etc)

Distributed Generation - Texas Style

I was in College Station, TX last month, and had a little time to just drive aound. I came across this industrial facility along the side of the road. The geek in me came out, I had to document this gen-set, just sitting out in the field. Another shot from the ongoing, occasional, series from "Disposable Cameras"

Just Shoot Me #874

“Which Way You Going Billy” by The Poppy Family hit the Top 40 today (4/25) in 1970. It peaked at #2. The less said about this song, the better.

Looking Up......

I liked the lines of this building...... And no, it's not printed backwards, the weather vane was just facing the wrong way! Nikon D70

POTD at Shutterbugs

Around The Horn recieved "Picture Of The Day" today over at Shutterbugs.biz!! That's my first POTD over there, pretty cool! This shot appeared on the blog 4/15, check it out in the archives!

Ya Picked A Fine Time To Leave Me Lucille

Kenny Rodgers hit the top 40 on this date (4/23) back in 1977, with that crossover classic, "Lucille". This one made it up to #5 of the pop charts. I remember listening to this on the jukebox at the little pizza joint just off campus, in the basement of the A&P grocery store. A tablefull of friends singing along (off key).... You probably had to bee there.

Texas Wildflowers

Sommerville Lake, from Yegua Creek Park, Sommerville, TX. From a continuing series of photos using disposable camers. Buzz Simplifier added in PSE2.0

Little Old Lady Got Mutilated Late Last Night.............

Werewolves of London again!!! (Ah-OOOOOOO!)
On this day (4/22) in 1978, Warren Zevon cracked the Top 40 with his song "Werewolves of London". A fine tune from a fine album (Excitable Boy), from an artist who knew how to NOT take himeself too seriously. Werewolves made it to #21.

Dino-Portrait

This isn't my favorite dinosaur shot, but it's the one my son picked for a poster. We got a 20x30" print of this from MPIX.com, my new favorite photo-finishing site. I wanted to use THIS ONE, but my son thought it was too scary to have on his wall! Nikon D70

Frankenstein!

Egder Winter's chart topping instrumental "Frankenstein" hit the charts on this day (4/21) in 1973. I remember, as a kid, watching E.W. perform this on TV after school one day.... I think it was the Mike Douglas show. Kinda of bizarre, this long haired, rail thin, albino guy running aorund doing ALL of the solo bits,including drums.... Frankenstein is from the album "They Only Come Out At Night", a great record which also includes "Free Ride" and "Autumn". Interesting, the highly warped song "Hocus Pocus" by Focus also hit the charts 4/21/73. That's 2 Top-10 instrumenal songs debuting on the same day! Thogh some might consider the yodelling in "Hocus Pocus" to be singing.........

Monorail

One of the Disney monorails, pulling out fo the station....... Nikon D70

What Did You Leave us this Time?

Cat Stevens hit the Top 40 on this day (4/20) back in 1974 with his hit "Oh Very Young". This was before he found religion, changed his name to "Yusuf Islam", and dropped out of the music world. Of course, he started life as Steven Demetre Georgiou, so "Cat" was just an intermediate name. He's been Yusuf since 1978, so it seems to be working for him. "Oh very Young" made it to #10, by the way...

Palm Frond?

or something like that.... Nikon D70

Bad Time

This day (4/19) back in 1975 was one of those "huh?" days in music history. Hitting the Top 40 on 4/19/1975: the novelty song "Shaving Cream" by Benny Bell, and "The Beer Barrel Polka" by Bobby Vinton. There's nothing like a little rock and roll, and these are NOTHING like a little rock and roll. On the flip side, Bowie's "Young Americans" and "Bad Time" by Grand Funk Railroad also came out 4/19/75. None of thes songs cracked the top 25....

Lights!!

In a darkened theater, at the start of the show. The music is swelling, smoke/mist is drifting across the audience, the mood is building.........and I'm looking at the lights..... Handheld at 1.3 seconds! Nikon D70

Bodined!!

Happy Birthday to Geoffrey Bodine, 56 today (4/18)! If you're not into NASCAR racing, you probably don't know Geoff. The oldest of the 3 racing Bodine brothers, Geoff is NOT a good ol' southern boy, but hails from Chemung, NY. At one time, all 3 Bodines were active in Nascar's top division, but no more. You'll find Geoff in the Busch division, though, still driving in circles!! Course, he's 43 in points, and has only started 4 of 8 races..... Todd's racing trucks, and is 7th in points. Meanwhile, Brett's behind the scenes. One of the coolest aspects of Geoff Bodine is his involvement in the desaign & development of bobsleds for the US Olympic team.

I got up to wash my face

Simon and Garfulkel's hit Cecilia hit the Top 40 today (4/18) back in 1970. This is one of those infectious, happy little songs with not so happy lyrics. "Making love in the afternoon with Cecelia, up in my bedroom. I got up to wash my face, when I come back to bed someone's taken my place." I can see where that would shake your confidence...... Cecelia made it all the way up to #4, and into our collective concsiousness...

Spring Is Sprung, the Sap Is Riz

It was beautiful outside this weekend. So naturally, the camera didn't get touched. Too busy working in the yard and around the house, along with T-ball practice and firing up the grill... SO, here's one from last year, on a drizzly spring afternoon......

Trapped in a mine that had caved in.........

Everybody's favorite pop song about cannibalism, “Timothy” by the Buoys, made it’s debut on the Top 40 today (4/17) in 1971. Timothy made it all the way to #14. “My stomach was full as it could be, and nobody ever got around to finding Timothy”…..

Barnstormer

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One of the rollercoasters at Disney Wolrd, the Barnstormer at Toontown. Slow shutter speed to show the motion (1/25th sec). Nikon D70

Like to start dreamin' about tomorrow, today.....

4/16/1977, Marshall Tucker Band hit the Top 40 with their hit "Heard It In A Love Song" The boys from Spartansburg SC made it to #14 with this one.

Baby Elephants

A couple of baby elephants, playing at Disney's Animal Kingdom. They seemed to be wrestling, or at least flopping around on each other..... Nikon D70

Just Shoot Me #695

Ah, April 15th..... Tax day, a day most people hate. It seems appropriate that on this day in 1972, Sammy Davis Jr hit the Top 40 with "Candy Man". This may be in my Top 5 most hated songs... Even as a kid (I was 11 when it debuted), it would send me screaming for the channel changer... This one made it to #1 and seemed to dominate the airwaves for an eternity.....

"Who can take a sunrise (who can take a sunrise); Sprinkle it with dew (sprinkle it with dew); Cover it with choc'late and a miracle or two; The Candy Man (the Candy Man); Oh, the Candy Man can (the Candy Man can); The Candy Man can 'Cause he mixes it with love And makes the world taste good (Makes the world taste good) "

Around the Horn

My younger daughter plays French Horn, it's an amzingly complex instrument.... This is a close up of her horn, converted to B&W. Nikon D70

Testing The Wind

I came across this guy a while back, at a small park near the Seattle airport. He was facing into the wind, apparently checking his lift. When the wind increased, his foot would lift off the rail.... Interesting behavior, I kept thinking "If you flap those wings, I bet you could fly!"

Sing Your Camel To Sleep......

On this date in 1974, Maria Muldour hit the Top 40 with her captivating, but rather odd song "Midnight At The Oasis". Midnight made it all the way to #6. Sing along now: "Come on, Cactus is our friend, He'll point out the way..."

What's a Nickajack?

Looking across Nickajack Lake, towards Haletown, TN and the Lee Highway Bridge. This was taken from the I-24 rest-stop on the west side of Nickajack Lake. I've driven across this lake (which is just a dam-ed up portion of the Tennessee River) dozens of times, but had never stopped at the rest stop until last month. Nikon D70.

I'll Take You Anywhere You Want To Go....

On this day (4/11), way back in 1970, the Ides of March hit the Top 40 with their 1-hit, "Vehicle". Was it really 35 years ago??? Just another friendly pop song: "Well I'm the friendly stranger In the black sedan Oh won't you hop inside my car?"...

Another Sign of Spring...

The Goldfinches are flocking to the feeder, and are turning back to their summer golden hues! Nikon D70

Pretty Blue Flowers!

I have no idea what kind of flowers these are, but they were certainly cool! Nikon D70

But You'll Never Be Free.......

Harry Nilsson hit the Top 40 toady (4/8) back in 1972, with "Jump Into The Fire", from the album Nilsson Schmilsson. This ablum is better known for the bigger hits Without You (#1) and Coconut (#9). Jump into the Fire only made it to #27, and had a dramatically different tone. Nilsson Schmilsson is a great, great album, I've had it on vinyl since 1972, when it originally came out. And Jump Into The Fire has always been one of my favorite songs on the disc.

Architectural Detail

It seems that photographers are always looking up, or looking down. Tomorrowland, Disney World.... Nikon D70

You Don't Have To Put Out The Red Light.......

On this day (4/7) in 1979, this new band called The Police had their first hit with an ode to a prostitute called "Roxanne". The world's introduction to Sting and the boys only made it to #32 on the charts, though they would go on to more success. Roxanne is a great song, it was fresh and new and different when it first hit the scene. Side story: during a party in college, I blew both woofers in my stereo speakers with this song.... at the same time. da-dum, da-dum, da-bfffffffff....... Off to Radio Shack!

Yellow Grid

An abstract look at a bench. Nikon D70

To Find An Answer....

Chicago's song "(I've Been) Searching For So Long" hit the top 40 today (4/6) back in 1974. The song made the top 10, peaking at #9. I wasn't a real big Chicago fan back in the 70's, but I've come to really like their '70->'75 stuff. But I'm a sucker for horns. These guys had 16 Top 40 hits between April 1970 and May 1975. Half of those made the Top 10, but they managed no #1 songs until 1976's "If You Leave Me Now"....

Sidewalk Patterns

Even the sidewalks are cool at Disney. This is at Tomorrowland. Nikon D70

Well Your Friends With Their Fancy Persuation.....

The band Ace had their one and only Top 40 hit on this day (4/5) in 1975, with "How Long (Has This Been Going On)". It peaked at #3. I was going to buy this on I-Tunes today, but they don't have it......

GRRRRRR!!!!

Life size stature of a dinosaur, at Disney's Animal Kingdom. I wouldn't want to see this fellow bursting through the undergrowth for real!. Nikon D70

We are Stardust, We are Golden....

Crosby Stills, Nash and Young's definitive version of Joni Mitchell's song "Woodstock" made it's chart debut today (4/4) in 1970. A great example of the edge that Neil Young brought to CS&N.....

Transitions

From shore to lake.... The freeze/thaw cycle had led to these really cool crystals on the ice surface, but the ice was starting to show signs of impending melt. This was taken back in February, with a "one-shot" camera. Part of a challenge among one of the photo related Yahoo Groups I'm in.....

Fooled Around And Fell In Love

Elvin Bishop had is first and only top 40 hit with "Fooled Around And Fell In Love", which entered the Top 40 today (4/3) in 1976.

Variety

Lighted jars! Nikon D70

Fixing A Hole.......

According to Billboard’s web site, The Beatles finished recording the album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." On this date in 1967, a whopping 38 years ago! The album tops Billboard's pop album chart for 15 weeks, longer than any Beatles album. This was the first Beatles album I owned, on pre-recorded cassette, bought in 1971 or so. It’s also my most recent CD purchase, just a couple of weeks ago.

Boogie Man?

Debuting today (4/2) in 1977, KC and the Sunshine Band, with "I'm Your Boogie Man". This song went all the way to #1, KC's 4 chart topper in the space of 5 hits. Oh how I hated this when I was 16. But as I've aged, I've found a space for such things in my music realm. A small space, of course... And can't we all be glad that the term "Boogie" has faded from prominance?

Bulls Eye

This was my grandfather's paocket watch, I've had it for probably 20 years. It doesn't keep good time anymore, but it's still important to me...... Nikon D70

Rope Binding

This is the kind of picture I take while on family vacation..... Pathetic, really. Nikon D-70