Chase Utley's F---ing Parade Speech

Better than “I had a f---king Dream Speech!”

Jamie Moyer, Brett Meyers, Brad Lidge, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and others react to
Chase Utley'scomments at Citizens Bank Park, following yesterday's parade.
(Michael Bryant/Staff Photographer )

The fan's reaction.

Top Five Records: Creepy Scary Songs

Halloween 2008

D.O.A. – Bloodrock "D.O.A." gives a grisly first person account of the aftermath of a plane crash. The vocalist describes the bloody sheets he lies in with a missing arm and a dead girl lying next to him, as the ambulance attendant looks over him with little hope. The song ends with the ambulance siren being shut off, indicating that the patient has died and is D.O.A.

Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath What is this that stands before me? Figure in black which points at me. Turn around quick, and start to run. Find out I'm the chosen one. Oh nooo! Ozzy may be the best vocalist ever for this type of death rock. I recommend listening to this song in the dark.

Bela Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus Songs really don't get creepier than this dark gem. Hard to believe this was Bauhaus' first single. Everything about this song is perfect - vocal, guitar, and woodblock drumming. Bauhaus should have broke-up after the single's release.

Thriller - Michael Jackson I know this is a bit cliche but everything about this song bleeds Halloween: the sound effects, the lyrics, the video, the Vincent Price cameo, and of course, the man of a thousand faces, Michael Jackson himself. "I'm not like other boys."

Hamburger Lady - Throbbing Gristle She's dying, She is burned from the waist up, On her arm, Her ear is burned, Her eyelashes are burned, She can't hold things up, And even with medical advances, There's no end in sight, For hamburger lady.

Extra Halloween Treat Actress Mercedes McCambridge, who won an Oscar for the 1949 film "All the King's Men" provided the raspy voice of the demon-possessed Megan in 1973 horror classic "The Exorcist." McCambridge is quoted saying that her voice work was "hardest work she had done for a film." This clip is McCambridge rehearsing for the role. I don't know what the devil sounds but I bet this is close. Download / Listen: Mercedes McCambridge - Demon Rehearsals

Long Live the Queen

Queen in the 1980's

My brother recently sent the following email.

OK. What gives? I have and enjoy Queen up to and including Jazz and then they fall off my radar. Let's say you're walking down the street and some guy comes up to, points a gun at your eye and says, "What are your favorite tunes off The Game, Flash Gordon, Hot Space and The Works?" What do you say?

My answer:

Oh, that's easy...

Every song on The Game is really good. The big hits were "Another Bites the Dust," "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." Sequentially, The Game is perfect. Every song is perfectly placed. I recommend listening to it in its entirety. The Game is last great Queen album.

"Put out the Fire" from Hot Space. Actually, it was more like Hot Shit. I thought Hot Space was trying too hard to sound like "Another Bites the Dust". This song is the only song that sounded like a true Queen tune. The Queen / Bowie classic, "Under Pressure," came from those sessions too.

I always enjoyed "Flash" as a song.

The Works was spotty but it did contain "Radio GaGa," "I Want to Break Free," and the fantastic "Hammer to Fall."

A Little Magic contained "One Vision."

1989's The Miracle contained "I Want it All" and 1991's Innuendo had the awesome "Headlong." Both songs feature some great guitar work and post-AIDS Freddie does a great job with the vocals.

You also might want to check out a tune from Roger Taylor's Fun In Space called "Airheads."

I had so much fun answering the question that I sent it to other Queen fans.

Bob Andreano's answer:

I say, Sir, download the following songs:

1) ALL of The Game

from Hot Space:
2) Staying Power
3) Back Chat
4) Body Language (yes, I think it's worth it)
5) Under Pressure

from The Works:
6) Radio Ga Ga *
7) Hammer To Fall +
8) Is This the World We Created

from A Kind Of Magic:
9) One Vision (7" or 12" version)

ESSENTIAL B-SIDES (!):
10) A Human Body
11) Soul Brother
12) I Go Crazy (12" or 7" version - both as sick)

alternate B-side:
13) Blurred Vision (One Vision instrumental remix)

from Roger Taylor's Fun In Space LP:
14) Beautiful Dreams

* alternate version:
the Live Aid performance

+ alternate versions:
a) the Live Aid performance
b) 12" promo only "Head Bangers Mix"

Erin Riley's answer:

Impossible to choose between individual Queen songs.

In order of my favorite LP's:

1. The Game
2. The Works
3. Flash Gordon - Hot Space tied for last

Beth Mann's answer:

I think I’d first have say, “What kind of strange ass mugger are you?”

Then I’d say:

The Game – "Play the Game" (one of my fave intros, a few of my fave lines “When you’re feeling down and your resistance is low, light another cigarette and let yourself go” and just love the sentiment of it.)

Flash Gordon – Damn, that’s tough. There’s a pretty little instrumental piece I remember in it. I think its called The Kiss? I don’t know if I’d even like it now. The theme song, I suppose, for kitsch value. It’s pretty theme songy – dramatic and superhero written all over it.

The Works – I Want to Break Free...I guess.

Hot Space – I know, its a easy choice, but "Under Pressure." I still can enjoy that song, after all of these years. And not too many songs exemplify today’s world, today’s pressures, like that one...at least to me.

I don’t know. I might have to take the bullet.

How would you answer my brother's question?

Frank Sinatra Stamp Cachet

I recently gave eBay store owner Captain Kirk's Stamps permission to use dad's Frank Sinatra art in stamp cachets - sold exclusively on eBay. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines a cachet 1: as a design or inscription on an envelope to commemorate a postal or philatelic event 2: an advertisement forming part of a postage meter impression. All I asked for in terms of payment is that dad received proper credit. From the eBay listing:

CACHET CHAT: The late Don Altobelli's artwork is featured on this cachet [with special permissions granted by Paul Altobelli...thanx, Paul!]. We found Mr. Altobelli's style captured many of Sinatra's 'off camera' expressions. Can't you just see the 'wheels turning' in this captured moment?

Visit Captain Kirk's eBay store to view and purchase a Frank Sinatra Stamp Cachet featuring Don Altobell's artwork.

Paul Altobelli, Steve Murray, and Willie Mays

Hangin' out with the Say Hey Kid

Paul Altobelli, Steve Murray, and Willie Mays

Top Five Records: Live Albums

1. Get Yer Ya Ya's Out – Rolling Stones
   
   The Stones really were the "greatest rock and roll band in world" that 1969 Thanksgiving weekend of concerts. "Ahh New York City you talk a lot. Let's have a look at ya."
   
   
   
   
2. Live at Leeds – THE WHO
   
   This was a "metal" album before there was metal. I actually prefer the original release over the expanded "complete" concert 1996 and 2001 cleaned-up re-releases. The original 1970 release is dirtier.
   
   
   
   
   
3. At Budokan – Cheap Trick
   
   I, like so many kids at the time, discovered Cheap Trick with this album. I'll take the many of the live versions of these songs over the studio recordings particularly "I Need Your Love."
   
   
   
   
   
4. Live at the Apollo – James Brown
   
   Some call this the greatest live recording of all time. In fact, the Library of Congress added it to the National Recording Registry. Clocking in at just over 31 minutes in length - Live at the Apollo should only be listened to in its entirety.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Live at the Regal – BB King
   
   Not only is this a great live album but Live at the Regal widely heralded as one of the greatest blues albums ever recorded and is #141 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
   
   

Michael and Joey

Two Bad Ass Mutha F'ers